If the first impressions that Kevin Lankinen and Kiefer Sherwood have made are any indication, the Vancouver Canucks’ biggest key to Stanley Cup glory might be ‘Adding more former Nashville Predators’.

Luckily for them, that opportunity might be about to present itself.

Despite all the headlines the Preds made in the offseason with free agent splashes like Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, Nashville has gotten off to a dreadful 4-8-1 record, tying them with the Flyers for the worst record in the NHL. Their 31 goals scored are the second lowest in the league, and GM Barry Trotz is already having plenty of buyer’s remorse.

With the theat of a massive selloff, the other 31 NHL teams are licking their chops like buzzards circling a sabretooth tiger carcass. And the Canucks, who are winning despite an ongoing identity crisis, are absolutely going to be among the most interested parties if Nashville does decide to pull the plug.

Not every Predators star is within a realisitic price range for the Canucks to get to, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try anyway. These four players are the ones that would be worth the heftiest trade package, ranging from serious depth candidates to longshot game changers.

No matter what a team’s biggest needs are, anybody with Stanley Cup aspirations would want Roman Josi on their blue line.

The Preds’ captain’s seven points this season puts him in a tie for third in team scoring, and he brings a level of leadership on defence that only a former Norris winner can. Even in a slow start by his standards, the 34 year old can still eat 25 minutes of ice time a night and quarterback a dangerous power play.

Let’s be honest; the odds of the Canucks being able to pry away Josi from the Predators are near impossible. Even if Patrik Allvin somehow found the assets and the cap space to make such a deal happen, a scenario where the Canucks had both of last year’s top Norris vote getters in their lineup feels illegal to even think about.

But hey, you just never know until you put the offer down.

The Canucks are clearly in need of defensive help, but Nashville’s shutdown options are less than ideal on that front. The closest thing to a young, right-shot defenceman with upside in his own end is Dante Fabbro, and even that might be some salesmanship on my part.

Fabbro’s career high 24 points in 2021-22 is the kind of scoring help the Canucks could use from their blue line, but in the 2.10 seasons since he’s scored another 24 combined.

Fabbro has found himself as a healthy scratch in seven of the team’s first 13 games, losing his spot in the starting six to Marc Del Gaizo. Still, he’s reached higher affectiveness in his own end than some of his teammates as the chart above shows.

There’s a decent possibility that Fabbro would get a boost from a new opportunity elsewhere. And what better place for the Coquitlam native to get that chance than Vancouver in a third pairing role?

With Gustav Nyquist heading for free agency in the offseason, you’d be hardpressed to find a better potential playoff rental for your wing.

Nyqust reached a career high 75 points with Nashville last season, smashing his previous personal best of 53 with Columbus in 2021-22. Nyquist has quietly been one of the league’s most consistent playmakers over the last decade, but at 35 years old he’s potentially reaching the edge of his productive years. So far through 13 games he has four goals and three assists, putting him on pace for another 40+ point campaign.

If the Canucks are at all worried about the stability of their winger corps down the stretch, Nyquist could add another level of high quality depth ahead of a potential playoff push.

If the Canucks are still concerned about Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller’s respective health in a month or two, they might be tempted to go out and find some serious insurance at centre. Ryan O’Reilly more than fits that description.

The former Conn Smythe and Selke winner is currently in a tie with Filip Forsberg for the Predators lead in points with ten, and has continued to be one of the league’s most reliable defensive forwards in spite of his team’s record. O’Reilly has the resume of a Stanley Cup champion, a regular on the power play and even with his hardnosed style managed to play in all 82 games for Nashville last year.

At a shockingly team friendly cap hit of $4.5 million until 2027, the cost to add the 33 year-old O’Reilly could be really pricey if enough suitors are driving up the cost. If the Canucks can get him without parting with any of their blue chip prospects it would be a no-brainer, but any package bigger than that would depend on how much faith the front office has in their current centres.