Three Vancouver Canucks skaters have been listed on Frank Seravalli’s latest Trade Targets list over at DailyFaceoff.com.
The list is an ever-changing one that Seravalli is constantly shifting around based on conversations he’s had with folks around the league behind the scenes.
In his most recent list, Brock Boeser, Luke Schenn — and for the first time, Conor Garland — all made the cut.
Here’s what Seravalli said about each player.
8. Brock Boeser
Stats: 41 GP, 9 G, 21 A, 30 Pts
Contract: 2 more seasons, $6.65 million AAV
Scoop: With Horvat traded, Boeser is on the clock. With the desire and need to create salary cap flexibility, the Canucks have somehow only added upwards of $10 million in wingers to their cap in the last 10 days, by re-signing Andrei Kuzmenko and acquiring Anthony Beauvillier. That spells the end of Boeser’s run in Vancouver, as he’s already been given the ability to seek a trade through his representative. Boeser hasn’t scored at his typical rate this season, but he’s still at 0.73 points per game, and he does have value as a scoring winger. The issue is the term. Will the Canucks be willing to retain a portion of his salary? If not, would they be willing to take a contract back? Or, would Vancouver simply be willing to take a little less on the return in order to move on? Those are questions the Canucks are asking themselves now.
Boeser has long been the subject of trade rumours in Vancouver, and many reports around the league suggest that there’s renewed interest in the Canuck winger.
14. Luke Schenn
Stats: 49 GP, 2 G, 14 A, 16 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA, $850,000 AAV
Scoop: GM Patrik Allvin didn’t rule out the possibility that the Canucks re-sign Schenn. But the much more likely move is Vancouver seeks to maximize the return on Schenn. They like what he’s brought to the lineup in his two seasons back in Vancouver. Word is the Canucks actually turned down a second-round pick for Schenn in last year’s deadline period. He’s a proven winner with Stanley Cup pedigree on an expiring, inexpensive deal. Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Boston are just a few of the teams Schenn has been linked to, but others have also expressed interest. They say you can never have too many defensemen on a playoff run and Schenn is a fit for just about every team, particularly as a right-shot who can also play the left if needed.
Everyone loves them some Luke Schenn, and it would be somewhat surprising to see him not moved out prior to the March 3rd trade deadline.
23. Conor Garland
Stats: 48 GP, 9 G, 15 A, 24 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $4.95 million AAV
Scoop: For all of the hemming and hawing about the money the Canucks have spent on wingers, Garland quietly lived up to his end of the bargain last season with 19 goals and 52 points. He burst onto the scene under Rick Tocchet in Arizona, the guy who gave him his shot. Nonetheless, the fact remains the Canucks committed $10 million more to wingers for next season in Anthony Beauvillier and Andrei Kuzmenko. And Garland has never fit quite right in Vancouver, signed by the previous regime. He is a prime candidate to try and create salary cap flexibility for the Canucks, but the term is a sticking point.
The early returns of Conor Garland playing under Rick Tocchet appear to be positive through a three game sample size. Garland’s been the subject of buyout rumours, but the Canucks would certainly rather like to get an asset if they’re to part ways with Garland.
In Seravalli’s previous list, Bo Horvat came in at the number one spot as Seravalli reported that trade talks around the Canucks’ captain had heated up significantly. Shortly after, Horvat was traded to the New York Islanders, with the Canucks acquiring Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, and a first round pick in return.
You can read the full Trade Targets list here as you get set for the March 3rd Trade Deadline.
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