The Vancouver Canucks have been a huge disappointment this season after their Cinderella run in the postseason bubble. The 2019-20 version of the Canucks won a qualifying round over the Minnesota Wild, the first round over the St. Louis Blues and then took the Vegas Golden Knights to seven games. One game away from the Western Conference Finals seems a lifetime ago for the Canucks of 2021, who have lost four straight and find themselves plummeting down the North Division standings. The Canucks have played more than anyone else through the first few weeks of the season, but allowing 60 goals in 15 games just isn’t going to cut it.
On Saturday, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported that there was a possibility of a shakeup by giving Jake Virtanen a change of scenery, suggesting that a move could “shock” the group a little bit while providing a new opportunity for a player who finds himself in and out of the lineup. Monday, Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet confirmed that by reporting that Virtanen is once again on the trade block, noting that it is not the first time the Canucks have shopped the young forward.
Virtanen, 24, has played in 11 of Vancouver's 15 games this season but has just one goal and no assists. After scoring 18 goals last season, he was a virtual no-show offensively in the bubble, leading to eyebrow-raising comments from GM Jim Benning who “expected more” from the power forward. Many believed Virtanen would be dealt the following offseason, but he ended up signing a new two-year contract in late-October. He now carries a $2.55 million cap hit, but the back-loading of the deal could make it a little less appealing to potential suitors.
Like so many other players, Virtanen is a frustrating ball of talent and inconsistency. The 6-1, 226-pound forward has all the measurables to be an elite power forward in the league, mixing size, strength and incredible speed when he’s at his best. But that best has shown up far too infrequently through his first few years in the league, resulting in just 51 goals and 96 points in 290 regular-season games. His three points in 16 postseason games last summer only added to the frustration, considering his ability should have been perfectly suited to playoff hockey.
Still, rushing into a trade with Virtanen’s value at an all-time low certainly doesn’t seem appealing. Perhaps the Canucks do need a shakeup, but it’s hard to imagine getting anything more than a mid-round pick for him right now. That is of course if they can find a buyer at all, considering the quarantine complications that trades face this season.
The Canucks face the Toronto Maple Leafs for a third consecutive game Monday night.
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