Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet with its own trademark phrase.

Speaking of trademarks, much of the early mark that fans give the new Vancouver Canucks front office will depend on the trades they make. Okay, that was a stretch, but we’re running out of weeks before the draft, and it’s a very quick slide into the rest of the offseason after that. In other words, if we’re going to ask you about the Canucks’ summer trades before they’re made, we’re only going to get a few more chances.

Let’s start with the quantity of trades before we get on to the quality of trades, or the identity of those traded. There’s little doubt that GM Ryan Johnson and co-POHOs Henrik and Daniel Sedin will make some moves this offseason to put their first stamp on the team. But exactly how many trades doth make a stamp?

Some draft day shuffling seems inevitable. Another dump of a veteran or two almost has to happen for roster refreshing purposes. And then there’s the kind of trades that many would insist the Canucks need to make if they’re going to find success in this rebuild, of the real difference-making variety.

Some readers seemed to appreciate the opportunity to make preseason predictions about the standings and then check those predictions after the 2025-26 campaign had been played out. With that in mind, we’re going to play a trade-quantifying prediction game today, and then we’ll try to remember to revisit this in October, when all the trading is said and done.

We’ll ask you to make a concrete prediction about the number of trades the Canucks will make this offseason – with that offseason being defined from the time you’re reading these words right up until Training Camp 2026 – at the very least. For those feeling a little extra bold, feel free to add some predictions about what those trades might be. We know damn well some of you won’t be able to help yourselves!

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below! (And with so many replies, we had to be a little choosier than usual this week. Apologies to anyone who got left out.)

At this point the Canucks need to hang onto Hronek.

Even if they draft Verhoeff, he prob will go back to NCAA like Quinn did. Tom Willander isn’t ready to pair with Zeev on a top pair yet, either.

Depending how next year turns out, trading Hronek at the deadline or in the offseason makes sense. That way, the Canucks would have two firsts this year and next year.

Please trade Hronek. We can sign other veteran defensemen for the rebuild and would prefer a couple hard-nosed old-school d-men to back up all the young skill we have.

I love the idea of flipping him to SJ for 2nd overall (could we get more that just 2OA?). Adding a couple players like Malhotra and Verhoeff to our pipeline would be amazing.

Pretty simple, I’m keeping Hronek for now but would be looking to trade most of the other veterans on the team.

The young defensive core needs someone capable of logging tough minutes to shield them from some of the pressures while they can develop their game. Hronek is the one who should be staying on for this.

This discussion is getting old and tired.

Hronek has two more years left on his NMC. Given how strenuously him and has agent have insisted that he is not going to waive that clause, I have to assume he has personal reasons to stay in Vancouver that outweigh any desire to play on a competitive team. Given that fact, I don’t expect him to go anywhere until the trade deadline of the 2027-2028 season, which would be his last chance to exert some control of his destination. At that point, he will likely play ball on a trade to ensure that he doesn’t wind up with a bottom-dweller, just as Tyler Myers did this year. Be patient, the rebuild is going to last several years, and he will get moved.

I would trade Hronek at the trade deadline to a team who are looking to add that final piece for a deep run at the playoffs.

You listen to offers, but need multiple firsts, because if he was traded next year or the year after he would bring back one first…so a first offer today is not good enough when weighed against his value to show young players how to play the game in 26-27.

So, my bottom line is two firsts….one in top five if possible and the other 20 or better.

Or the second could be an unprotected pick next year.

Otherwise, hang onto him.

Trade him. He’s the only valuable trade chip that will not be part of the team once the rebuild is finished.

Need to stockpile assets to do a proper rebuild… Also staying in the lottery next year is a must.

Trade. Of course this is subject to the return. He’s 29 and is a good player and mentor, but this team needs more prospects and picks. He helps in many ways, but if you’re going to rebuild, then go all in. I’d get a mentor type D-man or forward on July 1.

Of course they should keep Hronek. Fil is their best player now. If they draft correctly, either Chase Reid or Keaton Verhoeff will be able to step into his minutes in about two years. He’ll be expendable then.

Hronek stays at least until the 2028 Trade Deadline. Too bad the NMC might impact his asset value…

Don’t quote me, but with Hronek’s NMC, it doesn’t seem likely that he’d easily accept a trade to any team bad enough to offer a lottery protected pick in return.

If you don’t have the pick, it’s OK. When the time finally comes, I expect they’ll have to start with the best prospect available and take it from there.

This is a more interesting question than many have been recently. It still isn’t quite the right question.

I think almost all will agree Hronek should be traded at some point. The far bigger question is when.

The Canucks are extremely shallow on their organizational depth at RD. They have a career AHLer in Abbotsford and Alcos heading to school next year below the three players on the NHL roster. Hronek, Willander and Mancini might be fine next season, at least until an injury hits. Hronek has missed big chunks of most seasons with injury. Depending on a 7th round draft pick unproven rookie playing on his off side to be an NHL injury replacement is not conducive with creating a “safe” environment. Personally I think it would be foolish.

How well Hronek’s trade value is expected to hold up has to be a consideration. My opinion is that value will hold strong for at least a couple more seasons.

Where Hronek is traded to is another big consideration. Getting a late 1st round draft pick should not be the target. The temptation to trade Hronek is much stronger if the trade is with a mediocre or declining team.

Hronek should absolutely be traded when they have the organizational depth to absorb the loss of a top pairing RHD. The replacement doesn’t have to be to Hronek’s caliber yet, but can’t just be a kid who gets his head caved in.

When will Willander show he can move up? Will the Canucks draft a high end RHD with the 3rd pick in June? Can the Canucks add organizational depth later in the draft or through undrafted UFAs over the next year? Answers to these questions are needed.

The earliest I can see a Hronek trade making sense is the 2027 offseason. More likely, it’s the 2028 trade deadline or offseason. Being methodical or strategic in a rebuild is the opposite of dumping all your veterans and wishing you can draft a team all at once.

Of course, all this rationale goes for naught if the Canucks get an offer which is just too good to pass up. It should include a very good prospect.

Trade…at some point

The rebuild won’t happen overnight. Everyone is in a rush to get picks asap but anything in the 2026-2029 draft will work

He can play big minutes in the short term and help insulate some of the younger players. Playing 25+ minutes for Willander next year is not where you want to be. And having or not having Hronek won’t impact the standings much next yet

It doesn’t seem like he will wave his NMC in the short term anyways. The closer you get to July 1st 2028, the more likely he may be to waive so he can control the process as much as possible

He shouldn’t lose any value in the next 2-3 years. Even if his play dips slightly, his trade value should get offset by the percentage value of his contract versus the cap as the cap rises

Listen in the meantime and if something knocks your socks off, then great. But don’t trade him now, just because you have entered the rebuild.

The Canucks should absolutely trade Hronek, but only if/when the return warrants it. An RD that is signed to a very good contract AND will play on a team’s first pair has high value. If the Canucks can get a package comparable or better than the “Parayko” proposal, do it now. If not, wait. The singular most important task right now for the Canucks is adding picks and prospects. This will make a dent in that goal.

Building a culture will take time and is organic in nature. Players will continue to come and go throughout the rebuild and losing Hronek at anytime should not be something to avoid.

Eyes on the prize.

If Hronek could be dealt in a package that would net another top 10 pick in this draft I would support that. Otherwise, there is no need to make a move now.

I can see San Jose wanting badly to fill their RD hole with a guy that is already under contract, on an affordable deal, and in his prime for the next several seasons, rather than waiting on a freshly drafted prospect. I’m not sure there will ever be a better fit as a destination for Hronek.

I can see Hronek considering waiving his NMC to go to an exciting up-and-coming contender led by Macklin Celebrini.

I can see a trade to bring Tyler Myers back at low cost – a guy Dallas has no need for, who would presumably love to come back to Vancouver, and who would be an ideal leader, mentor, and buffer for the younger D. Of course, he would be a big on-ice downgrade on Hronek, but that also fits into the full-rebuild timeline.

If San Jose is willing to pay up big time (2-OA in a package), I would jump at it as a perfect sell-high scenario. Otherwise, wait for a better deal.

I am only on board with trading Hronek if it is in a package for monumental singular prime time asset. We did well on Hughes, but were over a barrel. I don’t want two pieces for one in a Hronek trade. I’ll take a Michkov, or similar, for Hronek plus. If that can happen, then make it happen.

He Needs to be traded at the draft or this team will never rebuild. He’s the only players with value. If you don’t trade him, all you’ll ever have is your basic picks and will be stuck in the bottom for ten years. He can bring back the equivalent of two first round decent prospects, like a Cootes value.

There is no “need” to trade him for more picks in the 2026 draft. He should be kept for the beginning of this season to see how the whole “mentoring” narrative goes. Re-evaluate that around the TDL, and if a massive package including high picks and/or valuable young players at centre come up, then go for it.