Even if we're willing (not me!) to part with the assets it would cost to bring him in, we have no way to deal with his cap hit if we want to improve the team. we're also paying a lot redundancy....he isn't taking Hughes' PPQB1 job. And his game has fallen off a lot this year he is absolutely not in the top 5 anymore. Expected goals % is barely above 50% and high danger chance and goals % are sub 50 and 40 despite extremely favorable zone starts. A lot of changes to that roster haven't helped, but the numbers are the numbers.
We need a workhorse defender who thrives on the PK, is a really good in zone defender and can move the puck well. Ideally they're a lefty.
Travis Sanheim fits the bill almost perfectly, but he is not getting traded. His teammate Cam York would be an interesting option, but why would they move him?
One name that fits, if Seattle falls out of contention, is Jamie Oleksiak. He fits cap wise, probably isn't prohibitively expensive and has an additional year on his deal.
The team has to have more than one defenceman with 40 points.
Players get hurt and Hughes is getting exposed more than most now playing almost half a game in the easy season.
Anyone would have to be blind not to have seen how he and Hronek evaporated in the real season after the first round against a not very good Nashville team.
Who stepped up? Myers and Zadorov, Myers shutting down and Zadorov doing both. These are the types of players the team needs not just a satisfied player that has found his niche and is content in that role. The team needs more scoring threats from the defence otherwise teams will just circle the wagons and check the notable threats. Myers is getting free because he is jumping up offensively and surprising some teams, he has always had that ability but due to his size his role has been more in a defensive role.
IMO you want players that have expressed they believe that they could be better, like Zadorov and Jiricek because they will work hard to prove themselves.
JT Miller is that kind of player which make them playoff performers.
Deharnais is struggling just to be an NHL regular, Willander hasn't even played pro hockey, prospects are hope not players, Brannstrom might be one of those types but he has a size and strength issue, not his fault.
There might be a few others out there on Buffalo buried behind Dahlin, Powers and Samuelsson< Montreal has a bushel basket of very young defenders playing, Pittsburgh might let Graves go although Pickering might be worth a chance as a depth improvement or upgrade in another month or so, Pettersson would be an upgrade on the AHL guys but then the team is spending more on a real #5/6 guy than they wanted to spend on a proven guy that could play effectively on the top pairing in a pinch,
I guess a question is are the Canucks ALL IN NOW or still or at all thinking of the future in 2 or 3 years? IF NOW then all picks and prospects are in play because none will be impact players on known if they can be for another 3 years.