Elliotte Friedman Addresses Canucks-Ducks Trade Speculation

Even if Anaheim did entertain offers for the young forward, Friedman doubted the Canucks could put together the required package to get him from the Ducks via trade.

"Do (the Canucks) have a real top-end prospect or pick that either they're going to that someone's willing to take or that they want to move or both in a deal?" Friedman said. "If the Ducks did want to trade McTavish, do you think you guys have the haul that it's going to take to get them? It's not even worth discussing."

McTavish, 22, is coming off a 52-point season in Anaheim and is considered part of the Ducks’ long-term core alongside Leo Carlson and Cutter Gauthier. That said, he remains unsigned after completing his entry-level deal.

Anaheim’s preference, according to Friedman, is to lock him up on a long-term contract rather than pursue a bridge deal, let alone a trade.

Friedman added that Vancouver’s best chance at filling its second-line hole , with Elias Pettersson locked into a top-line role at center, will likely come from within the organization.

“To me, right now, unless Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin pull something out of their hat that we're not seeing, the answer to that number two (center) question is probably internal for a little while,” Friedman said.

As for the Canucks options to slot into the 2C role, Daily Faceoff projects Filip Chytil to start the season in that position with Aatu Raty placed in the third line and Teddy Blueger in the fourth one.