Speculation: 1st (Top 15) + Willander/Dpetey for ??? (Center)

[Canucks LB]

The last thread was locked due to false advertising! I blame @Zirakzigil for that one.

Welcome to your new and improved thread, featuring some good old-fashioned speculation!
The Canucks are reportedly targeting a young 2C via trade.
Rumored assets that could potentially be available include their 2025 1st (top 15), 2nd, and San Jose’s 3rd-round pick.
When it comes to more significant pieces, they might reluctantly consider dangling Tom Willander or D-Petey (Elias Pettersson 2.0) in a Package for a more significant Center with pedigree.

Which center should they target?
What might realistically be available?

Feel free to drop your trade proposals and thoughts, cheers!

 

[Zirakzigil]

The last thread was locked due to false advertising! I blame @Zirakzigil for that one.

1st and a prospect for Horva..... wait
1st and a prospect for Mille...... wait
1st and a prospect for Lindhol...... oh snap!

Looks like the Canucks keep trading what they apparently need.

 

[Canucks LB]

1st and a prospect for Horva..... wait
1st and a prospect for Mille...... wait
1st and a prospect for Lindhol...... oh snap!

Looks like the Canucks keep trading what they apparently need.

Oh I still think it's going to happen, but nothing suggests the Canucks have leaked the sort to any insiders, including Dhaliwal today.
Unless somebody want's to find that exact moment?
Right now, I call SHENANIGANS!

 

[Zirakzigil]

Oh I still think it's going to happen, but nothing suggests the Canucks have leaked the sort to any insiders, including Dhaliwal today.
Unless somebody want's to find that exact moment?
Right now, I call SHENANIGANS!

Your team will have to get in line. Behind the Habs, Avs, etc. Should have paid the piper for Cozens

 

[Canucks LB]

Your team will have to get in line. Behind the Habs, Avs, etc. Should have paid the piper for Cozens

Looking for something more significant than Cozens, especially if a guy like Willander is getting involved.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Looking for something more significant than Cozens, especially if a guy like Willander is getting involved.

Extremely rare those type of young top 6 centers move.

 

[MMC]

Don't think that package is landing that. I mean I know I wouldn't trade any of the guys on the Ducks for this

 

[LemonSauceD]

We should not be trading Willander or D Petey.

 

[jackjohnson]

The last thread was locked due to false advertising! I blame @Zirakzigil for that one.

Welcome to your new and improved thread, featuring some good old-fashioned speculation!
The Canucks are reportedly targeting a young 2C via trade.
Rumored assets that could potentially be available include their 2025 1st (top 15), 2nd, and San Jose’s 3rd-round pick.
When it comes to more significant pieces, they might reluctantly consider dangling Tom Willander or D-Petey (Elias Pettersson 2.0) in a Package for a more significant Center with pedigree.

Which center should they target?
What might realistically be available?

Feel free to drop your trade proposals and thoughts, cheers!

I would target FAs like Brock Nelson and Bennett before trading our great assets for an unproven 2C. They can always trade them when their value is much higher for something they need if there is a log jam at D.

Willander should be untouchable. I want to see him play because I think he will be better than the 2 Petterssons we have on D and Mancini. Willander would slot next to Hughes and Hronek would slide to 2nd pairing with M. Pettersson. E. Pettersson and Mancini would eventually replace Myers and Forbort.

 

[jackjohnson]

We should not be trading Willander or D Petey.

I agree, this Canucks team strength now and in the future will be their defense and goalie.
Demko and Lanky will stabilize the net with Tolopilo and Silovs developing in the minors. The plethora of young dmen in Hughes, E. Pettersson, Mancini, Willander and Kudreyetsev will be the bright spot of this team for years to come. Keep all of those Dmen and goalies then focus on just getting C and RW in the draft.

 

[jackjohnson]

Extremely rare those type of young top 6 centers move.

Plus not worth giving up a 6'4 RHD that has potential to be a top pair with our elite dman in Hughes. Canucks making mistakes trading high end prospects for some unkonwn. Only way I would trade Willander is if we are getting a bonafide young stud like Will Smith.

 

[Canucks LB]

Extremely rare those type of young top 6 centers move.

Sure, but also extremely rare to have a RHD who is tall, a top prospect, can skate with pedigree and is only 20 years old be "potentially" on the Market for that specific center.

The question is, which rebuilding teams would be looking to do a Swap from C to D

 

[Zirakzigil]

Sure, but also extremely rare to have a RHD who is tall, a top prospect, can skate with pedigree and is only 20 years old be "potentially" on the Market for that specific center.

The question is, which rebuilding teams would be looking to do a Swap from C to D

Probably easier to trade for magic draft pick beans and try for Misa or Hagens

 

[Canucks LB]

Probably easier to trade for magic draft pick beans and try for Misa or Hagens

That's legit brilliant actually, I wonder if a team like Nashville who would HATE to rebuild again next season, would do 3rd/4th overall for Willander, considering the draft is pretty weak this year.

And they are looking to compete quickly not interested in doing a rebuild.
Willander would step right in for them in the top 4 Role.

 

[Zirakzigil]

That's legit brilliant actually

I think thats the only way you get one. A young top 6 center who is currently in the NHL wont be moved for that. Teams want and need them too much to move one.

 

[Canucks LB]

Plus not worth giving up a 6'4 RHD that has potential to be a top pair with our elite dman in Hughes. Canucks making mistakes trading high end prospects for some unkonwn. Only way I would trade Willander is if we are getting a bonafide young stud like Will Smith.

The only guys I can think of that I would do for in a trade for a center with Willander would be for Mason McTavish, Logan Cooley, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli or, Anton Lundell.

That's about it, and other then McTavish and maybe Lundell if they keep Bennett, I don't see it.

 

[Canucks LB]

I think thats the only way you get one. A young top 6 center who is currently in the NHL wont be moved for that. Teams want and need them too much to move one.

Meh, you can problably get somebody like Zegres for that mid Pick + Prospect 2bh

 

[Zirakzigil]

Meh, you can problably get somebody like Zegres for that mid Pick + Prospect 2bh

Ill lend @MMC my Yoshi gif to smack you

If Zegres was going to be moved cheap like that it would of already happened

 

[MMC]

Meh, you can problably get somebody like Zegres for that mid Pick + Prospect 2bh

Unc we've been over this

 

[biturbo19]

Deal Lekkerimaki and a 1st, by all means. But Willander isn't a piece that you move.


It's not like there's really much of anything out there worth that kind of package anyway. You're not prying a young Top-6 Center worth that out of pretty much any team's hands...and Willander isn't a guy you move for anyone that isn't pretty special.

Lekky on the other hand...he could be a good scoring winger and make you look bad if he becomes that consistent 30G+ sniper, but it's a much more reasonable piece to move (along with a Top-15 1st round pick). You're probably not getting much for that though.


Problem is that same as it's been since JT Bozo was moved and Canucks started shopping for yet another Top-6 Center, all over again. There are just so precious few of those types available on the market. The few that are, are typically a distressed asset for one reason or another. Old, injury prone, not living up to a big contract, or just plain old stagnating or not panning out.

And there are like 20 teams all looking for a good young Top-6 Center. Having 2 quality Top-6 Centers is basically a ticket to the playoffs in this parity league.

 

[Habs7631]

Shane Wright for Willander? Who says no?

 

[Ezpz]

Habs only real hole going into next season is 2C so expect a bidding war. We've got two firsts and prospects out the wahoo mcdaniel at every position. I would have said we'd be patient and wait for Hage but making the playoffs, I can't see Hughes not addressing the only hole. Fully expect Reinbacher to plug the RD hole next season and be with Hutson by March.

That being said Habs have been careful about who they "add to the locker room" so you can probably pay less for a guy with character flaws without worry.

Vancouver might just be second place in terms of assets for a 2C, but there's also about ten other teams who need the same thing.

It's awkward because even though the playoff races are not even remotely close (I've never seen 90% of spots clinched with 5 games left before), it seems like no one is rebuilding. Boston might be the only one with assets to sell and obviously they have zero center depth. Everyone from Detroit to Philly in the standings will be trying to make the playoffs next year.

In the west it's the same deal, maybe only Nashville. Obviously you don't want O'Reilly/Stamkos for premium assets.

I've never seen so many bad clubs that aren't trying to tank before.

So you're looking at teams with excess depth of top 6 centers/potential ones. So you're looking at Buffalo, Columbus, the Ducks, San Jose.. pretty much all the bad teams who are several years into their rebuild. Except most of these teams just move the excess centers to wing.

So who is a free agent and a top 6 center? Marner who has mostly played wing, Tavares, Duchene, Granlund, maybe Donato, maybe the shell of Brock Nelson, maybe Sam Bennett the end.

Moral of the story? Draft centers.

Anyways tangible list of potentially available centers, for the right price, league wide (don't care if you're a fan of one of these teams and disagree).

1C: Marner, Tage Thompson (only for insane overpay + potential much younger top 6 C back)
2C; Ryan Strome, Trevor Zegras (if you think he's not a winger), Pavel Zacha, Elias Lindholm, probably Middlestats again, Nazem Kadri if Calgary retool, Ryan Donato, one of Columbus' many centers (Moneyhands, Sillinger, Jenner), Mavrik Bourque, RNH, Sam Bennett, skeletons of Nashville, Bo Horvat, DJ Zibanejad, broken back Sean Couturier, maybe Malkin (no way Crosby is moving though), Yanni Gourde, one of Nick Schmaltz (barely takes draws) or Barrett Hayton. Tomas Hertl or William Karlsson (vegas aint loyal), that's about it.

Won't even bother looking up prospects cause nobody trades top 6 center prospects who are NHL ready for futures.

 

[Djp]

Oh I still think it's going to happen, but nothing suggests the Canucks have leaked the sort to any insiders, including Dhaliwal today.
Unless somebody want's to find that exact moment?
Right now, I call SHENANIGANS!

Yousre not going to get what you want by offering a mid 1st in a weak draft and prospects for a provven young center.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Keep Wallinder and D petey

Flip hughes and forward petey and restart

 

[TageGod]

Habs only real hole going into next season is 2C so expect a bidding war. We've got two firsts and prospects out the wahoo mcdaniel at every position. I would have said we'd be patient and wait for Hage but making the playoffs, I can't see Hughes not addressing the only hole. Fully expect Reinbacher to plug the RD hole next season and be with Hutson by March.

That being said Habs have been careful about who they "add to the locker room" so you can probably pay less for a guy with character flaws without worry.

Vancouver might just be second place in terms of assets for a 2C, but there's also about ten other teams who need the same thing.

It's awkward because even though the playoff races are not even remotely close (I've never seen 90% of spots clinched with 5 games left before), it seems like no one is rebuilding. Boston might be the only one with assets to sell and obviously they have zero center depth. Everyone from Detroit to Philly in the standings will be trying to make the playoffs next year.

In the west it's the same deal, maybe only Nashville. Obviously you don't want O'Reilly/Stamkos for premium assets.

I've never seen so many bad clubs that aren't trying to tank before.

So you're looking at teams with excess depth of top 6 centers/potential ones. So you're looking at Buffalo, Columbus, the Ducks, San Jose.. pretty much all the bad teams who are several years into their rebuild. Except most of these teams just move the excess centers to wing.

So who is a free agent and a top 6 center? Marner who has mostly played wing, Tavares, Duchene, Granlund, maybe Donato, maybe the shell of Brock Nelson, maybe Sam Bennett the end.

Moral of the story? Draft centers.

Anyways tangible list of potentially available centers, for the right price, league wide (don't care if you're a fan of one of these teams and disagree).

1C: Marner, Tage Thompson (only for insane overpay + potential much younger top 6 C back)
2C; Ryan Strome, Trevor Zegras (if you think he's not a winger), Pavel Zacha, Elias Lindholm, probably Middlestats again, Nazem Kadri if Calgary retool, Ryan Donato, one of Columbus' many centers (Moneyhands, Sillinger, Jenner), Mavrik Bourque, RNH, Sam Bennett, skeletons of Nashville, Bo Horvat, DJ Zibanejad, broken back Sean Couturier, maybe Malkin (no way Crosby is moving though), Yanni Gourde, one of Nick Schmaltz (barely takes draws) or Barrett Hayton. Tomas Hertl or William Karlsson (vegas aint loyal), that's about it.

Won't even bother looking up prospects cause nobody trades top 6 center prospects who are NHL ready for futures.

I know you said you don't care if I am a fan of Sabres, but Tage is playing on wing under Ruff and Marner is also a winger, just saying. I will throw in Tage is 100% unavailable. Top 3 goal scorer in the NHL. You missed that Guerin was potentially shopping Rossi so there is your 1C target.