Canucks Urged to Take Drastic Step Amid Early NHL Season Problem

On Thursday, The Athletic’s Thomas Drance went further, arguing that the Canucks should consider overpaying to fix the issue before the trade market dries up or more injuries unexpectedly pop up.

“Even if it costs the Canucks a significant retail price to accomplish, and it will, this combination of injuries and underperformance has demonstrated that the club needs to add a credible NHL-level option to bolster its centre depth,” Drance wrote. “It’s a need that will continue to exist independent of whatever update is ultimately provided on Chytil’s status in the near future.”

The Canucks opened the year betting on a depth chart that has since unraveled. Chytil was hit hard by the Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson and placed on injured reserve.

Raty has not taken the step the team hoped after scoring 11 points in 33 games last season. Blueger has been limited to two games, and AHL's Abbotsford reinforcements like Ty Mueller and Max Sasson have dealt with setbacks of their own.

According to Drance, Vancouver’s best chance to avoid a downward spiral is to act now and chase win-now assets, even if it takes sending a good prospect the other way.

“In my view, the Canucks could justify parting ways with a Victor Mancini-calibre prospect or multiple second-round picks or maybe even a heavily protected first-rounder,” Drance wrote, “in part because the risk of making such a seemingly reckless bet would be mitigated by the club’s opportunity to speculate on the short-term value of a good, affordable depth piece.”

The Canucks sit 4–3–0. Whether that record is sustainable throughout a longer period may depend on how aggressively general manager Patrik Allvin responds before the trade window tightens and assets start flying off the board.

Vancouver visits the Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. ET Thursday.