VANCOUVER — As the Vancouver Canucks open an extended final act in their Greek tragedy of a season, it is not the 25 games remaining that are the most pressing number to them but the 10 days until the National Hockey League’s trade deadline.
Far beyond the point of no return in their franchise’s biggest rebuild this century — and perhaps ever — the Canucks will continue to offload experienced NHL players in return for draft picks or prospects.
There are more trade lists on the internet these days than wish lists in Santa’s mailroom at Christmastime, and all of them seem to include multiple Canucks.
The obvious ones are forwards Teddy Blueger, Evander Kane and David Kampf — players eligible for unrestricted free agency who were declared by Canucks management back in November to be available to other teams.
But the lists go well beyond these three. Look around and you’ll see Conor Garland and Jake DeBrusk frequently mentioned, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. Even players that general manager Patrik Allvin has little interest in trading, like Filip Hronek, pop up in media conjecture.
We wonder at times if enough players will survive the rebuild for the Canucks to even have a team next season, although it could scarcely perform worse than this one.
“I’m not saying I’ve done this before,” DeBrusk, two seasons into a seven-year contract in Vancouver, told reporters after Tuesday’s practice at Rogers Arena, “but obviously when you’re in a position where you’re last place in the league, you know there’s going to be changes. So, you know, it’s tough. It’s tough on guys. Obviously, it’s on everyone’s mind. And nowadays with, you know, Twitter, social media and different outlets or different rumours, whatever, it’s a little more heightened, especially on a team like ours.”
“The chatter?” Kane said. “I think in this city there seems to be chatter 365 days a year, 24/7. I’m shocked how many hours of sleep some guys can get. Whether you’re here for one year or here for 10 years, there’s always chatter. It’s part of the territory around here.
“I think for most pending UFAs on a team that’s basically out of the playoffs, you know, you’d welcome an opportunity to extend your season past the regular season. Is it easy? Is it hard? I mean, it’s just the nature of the business.”
Nearing the end of what appears to be a one-and-done season in his hometown, Kane said he would “welcome” an opportunity to go to a playoff team.
Blueger, on the other hand, would love to remain with the Canucks beyond this season, his third with the team. But he said Tuesday there has been no mention from management about another contract here.
“My wife and I have talked about it, so we’re at peace with whatever happens,” Blueger told Sportsnet. “We’d love to stay. We love the city. But if something happens, hopefully you’re going to a playoff team that has a chance to go on a run. But there’s no point stressing about it.
“There was talk that I was getting traded last summer and nothing happened. And when I was traded (to Vegas from Pittsburgh in 2023), I never heard anything before it happened. It helps that I’ve been through it before.”
Garland was traded to the Canucks by the Arizona Coyotes in a summer blockbuster nearly five years ago and, except for a couple of quiet weeks last season, has been hearing his name in trade rumours ever since.
“I’m fortunate, you know, that I’ve matured since my younger days here (when I was) 25, 26 and let the distractions get to me and kind of affect my game,” Garland, 29, told reporters on Monday. “But I’m older now. I have a family, so I’m not really on my phone or watching TV much with my son. We just kind of play mini-hockey all day and hang out. So I’m very fortunate to have distractions in my life that are always positive.”
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The Canucks don’t “want” to trade Garland, a consistent, relentless play-driver year after year and, with Blueger, one of Vancouver’s best forwards going into the Olympic break.
But hockey operations president Jim Rutherford has made it clear the Canucks must be open to all trade possibilities so, as is the case with DeBrusk (or anyone), it’s a matter of how badly another team might want to acquire Garland.
Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin will probably take whatever they can for their UFAs before March 6, maybe third- or fourth-round picks for Blueger and Kane and something less for Kampf. But they can be more patient or demanding when it comes to other veterans with term on their contracts.
All of this, of course, makes it complicated for coach Adam Foote to prepare the team, which plays the first of its final 25 games Wednesday at home against the Winnipeg Jets.
“Yes, but what hasn’t this year, right?” Foote joked about the complications. “Like you said, it’s just part of the deal. It’s what you sign up for. We’ve had our share of all that this year, but it’s our job to just keep going every day, day by day.
“Every day is different and you just keep grinding. And that’s what we do. We’re going to have some more noise… with the trade deadline. And these guys are pros, they know. It never felt good when I was a player knowing the trade (deadline was coming), even when you felt safe. Just that feeling, you never know. But that’s part of the business and, you know, the guys understand it.”
“I think guys are keeping it very professional,” Blueger said, “and focusing on trying to win as many games as we can, trying to build for next year. Morale takes a hit sometimes with all the losing — more than it does from any uncertainty.”
ICE CHIPS — After six practices to end the Olympic schedule break, the Canucks will be looking forward to hitting another team’s players on Wednesday. There was a practice altercation Tuesday between Garland and defenceman Elias Pettersson (Junior), just as there was a skirmish Monday involving Hronek and Nils Hoglander… With goalie Kevin Lankinen unable to return to Vancouver from the Olympics in time to practise, the Canucks are expected to start Nikita Tolopilo on Wednesday… After practising in a non-contact jersey Monday, Boeser was a full participant on Tuesday.
CANUCKS PROJECTED POST-OLYMPICS LINEUP
Forwards
Kane-Pettersson-DeBrusk
O’Connor-Rossi-Boeser
Ohgren-Blueger-Garland
Hoglander-Kampf-Karlsson
Defencemen
Pettersson (Jr)-Hronek
Buium-Myers
M. Pettersson-Willander
Goaltenders
Tolopilo
Patera
Extras
Sasson, Raty, Joseph
