The Vancouver Canucks have been a huge disappointment this season after their Cinderella run in the postseason bubble. The 2019-20 version of the Canucks won a qualifying round over the Minnesota Wild, the first round over the St. Louis Blues, and then took the Vegas Golden Knights to seven games. One game away from the Western Conference Finals seems a lifetime ago for the Canucks of 2021, who have lost four straight and find themselves plummeting down the North Division standings. The Canucks have played more than anyone else through the first few weeks of the season, but allowing 60 goals in 15 games just isn’t going to cut it.
On Saturday, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reported that there was a possibility of a shakeup by giving Jake Virtanen a change of scenery, suggesting that a move could “shock” the group a little bit while providing a new opportunity to a player that finds himself in and out of the lineup. Today, Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet confirms that by reporting that Virtanen is once again on the trade block, noting that it is not the first time they have shopped the young forward.
Virtanen, 24, has played in 11 of the team’s 15 games this season but has just one goal and no assists. After scoring 18 goals last season, he was a virtual no-show offensively in the bubble, leading to eyebrow-raising comments from GM Jim Benning who “expected more” from the power forward. Many believed Virtanen would be dealt the following offseason, but he ended up signing a new two-year contract in late-October. He now carries a $2.55MM cap hit, but the back-loading of the deal could make it a little less appealing to potential suitors.
Like so many other players, Virtanen is a frustrating ball of talent and inconsistency. The 6’1″, 226-lbs forward has all the measurables to be an elite power forward in the league, mixing size, strength, and incredible speed when he’s at his best. But that best has shown up far too infrequently through his first few years in the league, resulting in just 51 goals and 96 points in 290 regular season games. His three points in 16 postseason games last summer only added to the frustration, given his ability should have been perfectly suited to playoff hockey.
Still, rushing into a trade with Virtanen’s value at an all-time low certainly doesn’t seem appealing. Perhaps the Canucks do need a shakeup, but it’s hard to imagine getting anything more than a mid-round pick for him right now. That is of course if they can find a buyer at all, given the quarantine complications that trades face this season.
The Canucks face the Toronto Maple Leafs for a third consecutive game this evening.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Virtanen for Bennett. Both high picks, both struggling and looking for a new opportunity, both have the same cap hit.
ahaha makes sense on paper, I like it. But after the flames stole the Canucks mojo this off-season I doubt they want to do any deals with their division rival
Flames already have 3 ex-Canucks from last year. Might as well make it 4
They will not trade within the division. If they weren’t in the same division I could see a match.
Bennet can play Center and defence. So flames say no.
To the Islanders for Josh Ho-Sang. Both need a change of scenery
Pens should at least kick the tires on a McCann for Virtanen deal.
McCann was traded AWAY from Vancouver….would be quite something if he went full circle
McCann isn’t worth a bag of pucks right now.
McCann has 5 points in ten games playing 3rd line minutes with almost no PP time. He’s doing much better than Virtanen.
Only reason the Pens should consider it is their lack of heavy players and to get another right shot forward.
To the Rangers for Gauthier and DeAngelo, with the Rangers retaining 50%.
That I would do but then the Canucks need to send away one of been or hamonic
What about Virtanen to the Coyotes for Christian Fischer. Both have had similar careers and have the same size. They both need a change of scenery.
He certainly an interesting buy low candidate, I would assume he has more value than Bennett at this point though.
The first “deal” that the Canucks need to do is to fire Benning.
Benning will trade Virtanen for an 8th round pick in the 2025 draft and then suddenly Jake will become a scoring sensation for his new team.
Wherever Chiraeli is, he is working on trading a 90 point winger for an underperforming high-pick reclamation project that will fail….