The Vancouver Canucks dropped a bombshell Wednesday, by way of Bob McKenzie, wherein they outlined the players they were willing to part with going into the trade deadline. To the amusement of almost nobody in Vancouver, the list didn’t include Radim Vrbata or Dan Hamhuis. It did include Matt Bartkowski.

It’s been a long year for Bartkowski. The Canucks signed him to a one-year, $1.75-million contract this summer to step into their top four and eat minutes in a high leverage role. It’s a role beyond Bartkowski’s depth and he’s struggled to stay afloat, in his own end especially. 

Bartkowski may not be able to contribute at the level one might expect given his role, he brings a unique set of skills to the lineup that would be well suited to a bottom pairing role on a team that could afford the luxury.

The Stars are gearing up for an extended run into the playoffs and still need help on the blue line. They play a high-paced game predicated on carrying the puck through all three zones. A high-risk, high-reward system if there ever was one. It’s just the kind of system that could live with the occasional defensive lapse in return for strong play carrying the puck through the neutral zone. That’s something Bartkowski does exceptionally well.

Potential trade chips: Fifth round pick, sixth round pick.

Acquiring Andrew Ladd makes their salary cap outlook a little tight, but that’s exactly why a player like Bartkowski might be right up their alley. Bartkowski is a UFA at the end of the season and costs a paltry $1.75-million against the cap. Chicago’s another team that carries the puck through all three zones. Maybe they take on Bartkowski for depth down the stretch. 

Potential trade chips: Fifth round pick, sixth round pick

The Penguins have lacked a puck moving defenders all season. Adding Trevor Daley helps, but it’s a band-aid at best. Bartkowski isn’t an upgrade, but it would certainly help their breakout to have a player of his ilk. Pittsburgh is running low on tradeable assets too, which makes a low cost acquisition like Bartkowski especially appealing. 

Potential trade chips: Fifth round pick, sixth round pick, Tim Erixon

Colorado’s been looking to build on their blue line for as long as I can remember. Bartkowski isn’t a long-term solution, but they don’t necessarily need one at this exact moment anyways. The Avs are in the middle of a playoff push and a player like Bartkowski can give them depth down the stretch to challenge into April.

Potential trade chips: Fifth round pick, sixth round pick, Brandon Gormley

The Blues were rumoured to be interested in Roman Polak up until he was moved to the San Jose Sharks. Luckily Doug Wilson saved them from that blunder. They can step up to the plate for Bartkowski though and it’s hardly much of a downgrade. They’re clearly looking for defensive depth, anyways.

Potential trade chips: Fourth round pick, fifth round pick