Vancouver Canucks on the Lookout For a Veteran Presence on the Ice
Currently, the Vancouver Canucks are on the lookout for a veteran presence on the ice. They want to add an impact player to the roster and are looking to add Miller in a big way. They’re hoping to get a second-overall pick for the 22-year-old defenseman. They also want to find a way to keep Miller from leaving on a free agent contract.
Canucks’ defenseman Quinn Hughes is now considered week-to-week
Whether or not Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes will be able to play in his team’s next three games is still unclear. The 21-year-old is currently listed as “day to week” by head coach Bruce Boudreau. It is believed that Hughes has suffered a lower body injury.
Before the injury, Hughes averaged a point per game. He played in all five of the Canucks’ opening game of the season. His injury has thrown Vancouver’s season off track and left them to dig themselves into a deep hole to recover.
Hughes is one of the only Canucks defensemen who consistently evades forechecks and can break the puck out of the defensive zone. He’s also a strong offensive presence. Having earned two power-play assists in the last six games, he is now on pace to match his total from last year.
Hughes has a plus-6 rating through 20 games. He has eight points overall in his last eight games. He has also recorded a power-play assist in each of the last five games. He is averaging 27:14 of ice time per night.
When healthy, Hughes is a reliable part of the Canucks’ top four. He is a good defender and should rack up points in a significant role this season. He’s a top-end fantasy target when cleared to play.
Despite the injury, Hughes hasn’t missed a game this season. He’s logged nine blocked shots and has a plus-5 rating in 15 games. He’s also averaging a plus-3 rating in his last 20 games. He’s set up Brock Boeser’s second-period goal, dished out a power-play assist, and has six hits this season.
If Hughes returns to the lineup, he’ll jump into the top-pairing role he’s been known for since the beginning of the season. He’s also likely to quarterback the Canucks’ first power-play unit. He’s been held off the score sheet just once this season.
Canucks want second-overall pick for Miller
Despite all the hype, the Vancouver Canucks’ new regime has yet to trade star forward Ryan Miller. In fact, it hasn’t even traded for a first-round pick since Vasily Podkolzin was taken in 2014.
Nevertheless, this summer, the Canucks are reportedly considering trading for a top prospect in order to land the right kind of deal. This means they’re probably a lot more receptive to trade offers.
Regardless of whether they decide to make a deal or not, the Canucks are currently in cap hell, which means the new regime must manage their salary cap effectively. They’ve already resigned RFAs Conor Garland and Brock Boeser to long-term contracts. Adding a free-agent to the mix could bring cap relief, but they’re still in need of some help on the blue line.
In the upcoming draft, the Canucks are reportedly targeting a defenseman. They haven’t drafted a blueliner higher than the third round in the last four years, so they need to add one to their pipeline. Among the top prospects in this year’s draft are Noah Dobson, Shakir Mukhamadullin and Danila Yurov.
The Vancouver Canucks’ best trade chip is Miller, but he’s not the most important player on their roster. That honor goes to Bo Horvat, who is set to become a free agent after next season. The Canucks have no second-round picks in the upcoming draft, so they’ll need to be creative if they hope to get something for the 29-year-old center.
The Canucks have been on the lookout for a second-round draft pick for the past two seasons, but they’ve not found one. They could trade for a player like Juraj Slafkovsky, who was taken in the first round in 2018. If the Canucks are able to get someone like that, they can move on to other things.
Canucks want to find a blockbuster deal to find a new home for Miller
During the offseason, Vancouver Canucks management hoped to find a blockbuster deal to bring in J.T. Miller. But in the end, they didn’t. Rather, they preferred to re-sign Miller to a seven-year contract extension, which has no trade protection.
Miller has had the best season of his career. The 29-year-old is the team’s leading scorer, with 32 goals and 99 points. He also leads the team in hits, faceoffs and multi-point outings. He’s been held off the scoresheet just five times this season.
Miller is currently the Canucks’ highest paid player. His contract is worth $8 million a year. His contract includes a no-movement clause that won’t kick in until the 2023-24 season. This means that the Canucks would be on the hook for the next year.
While Miller is not a household name, his attributes make him appealing to other teams. He has a good game, is a solid leader and has a solid pedigree.
In fact, he could be a long-term core piece for the Canucks. He’d be a great addition to the team’s top six. It would also be interesting to see if Vancouver can find a way to keep him on the roster beyond this season.
Although the Canucks may not be in the Stanley Cup hunt, they are a contender in the moral victory category. The Canucks are looking for young talent and are gauging the trade market on the best players.
The Canucks need a franchise center. They also need a solid starting goaltender. They’re also in dire need of help on the blue line. They don’t have a lot of depth.
While the Canucks may not be able to re-sign Miller to a long-term deal, they can find a way to trade him. As of right now, they have two weeks to act before the trade deadline on June 13.
Canucks want to find a veteran presence for the franchise
Despite a mediocre performance last season, the Vancouver Canucks are trying to find a veteran presence for the franchise. They need to free up space on their cap to make a move or two.
There are some good players on the roster that can help the Canucks improve, but they will need to be traded. Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, and Connor Garland all represent good assets. They aren’t stars, but they have the talent to be solid players in the future.
Besides a few players who are untradeable, the Canucks also have some question marks in the head coach and general manager roles. Boudreau and Rutherford are good coaches, but they haven’t made the necessary adjustments to the roster to create a team that can challenge for a Cup.
In the meantime, the Canucks are working to bring in new faces to fill out the roster. Josh Bailey could be a good acquisition for the Canucks, as he could help out with the second or third line. The Canucks also have a prospect in Thatcher Demko.
Considering that the Canucks are rebuilding, it makes sense to hold onto some of the young talents on the roster. But they should not hold on to talented players who are not in the pipeline to make a big impact on the future of the team.
It’s time for the Canucks to make some logical moves and release some players to clear up some cap space. They should be willing to part with veterans such as J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat before the trade deadline, but they should not be holding on to talented players who are not on the pipeline to make a major impact.
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