Everyone loves to play coach and try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together to figure out the optimal line combinations for their favourite NHL team, and we here at CanucksArmy are hardly any different. That’s why Today, we’re diving in to try to determine where the best spot in the lineup is for the Vancouver Canucks’ recent trade acquisitions.

We’ll start with the most obvious one. Filip Chytil, acquired from the Rangers in the JT Miller trade, pretty clearly becomes the Canucks’ second-best option at centre, and will likely start in that spot from the get-go. At 25 years old, the Canucks feel Chytil has even more upside than he’s shown to this point in his career, as he tallied 45 points in 74 games during the 2022-23 season before being limited to just 10 games last season thanks to concussion issues.

He’s up to 11 goals and nine assists through 41 games this season, and brings a steady and reliable two-way game to the table. Expect to see him centring the second line immediately. Who will his wingers be? Well, if Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk are on the top line with Elias Pettersson, it would seem that Nils Höglander and Conor Garland are the best options for his wing. Maybe once he gets back in a rhythm, Dakota Joshua could be considered for that spot on the left wing as well. Or maybe it’s a different player…

Look, if Drew O’Connor gets a spot in the Canucks’ top six immediately, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. He’s fast, physical, and forechecks hard. He’s got all the tools to be the next Kiefer Sherwood, who of course, was the next Dakota Joshua.

Last season was O’Connor’s first full year in the NHL, as he tallied 16 goals and 17 assists through 79 games played. He’s up to just 16 points through 53 games this season, but there’s a good chance that production ticks up playing under Rick Tocchet. Where’s the best spot for him? It could very well be on the second line next to Chytil and Garland, but if the Canucks elect to keep Höglander in the top six, O’Connor — like Sherwood and Joshua — is a fine option to play in the bottom six. Really, he can play anywhere.

Moving to defence, this one is also fairly simple. Marcus Pettersson gives the Canucks the luxury of saddling Filip Hronek with a legitimate top four defence partner. The pairing of Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers has been dynamite since Myers returned from suspension and appears to have chosen to reincarnate prime Chris Pronger in the process.

Pettersson defends well at 5v5, has an active defensive stick, and is going to play on the penalty kill. He’s a big upgrade on Carson Soucy, who has struggled to find his game all season long. Pettersson and Hronek should turn out to be a truly great second pairing for the Canucks, something they haven’t had for a while. Pettersson is a calming force to whoever he plays with, and that should allow the more offensive-minded Hronek to cook a bit more.

Now, if Quinn Hughes — who is a game-time decision for Sunday night — can’t play, the best place for Pettersson to play in the Canucks’ lineup is on the top pairing, likely still beside Hronek. Let’s hope that’s not what happens.

Also on defence, Victor Mancini was part of the package the Canucks got in the Miller trade with the Rangers. A 22-year-old right-shot defenceman with size, Mancini has appeared in 15 games for the Rangers this season. Ex-Canuck-turned-analyst Frank Corrado had some additional analysis and good things to say about Mancini:

General manager Patrik Allvin alluded to the fact that the plan for the Canucks was to get Mancini into Vancouver and get him working with the coaching staff. He’s a clear number three defenceman right now, and with Vinny Desharnais out of his way, it would make the most sense for the Canucks to end the Soucy-Juulsen pairing once and for all, and replace Juulsen with Mancini.

You can check out Allvin’s full comments on the trades by clicking here!