The addition of David Kampf hasn’t pulled the Vancouver Canucks off of the center market just yet. The club could be continuing their search for a stout, second-line center with Filip Chytil out and Lukas Reichel failing to live up to expectations, per Patrick Johnston of The Province.
Vancouver is certainly in a tricky spot with a quarter of the season gone by. Chytil appeared to be exactly what the team needed to start the year. He scored three goals in the first six games of the year, while adding 15 shots on goal and a 47.4 faceoff percentage. But he is now out for at least a bit longer with another upper-body injury – something the 26-year-old center has struggled with for the last three seasons. Reichel wasn’t able to pick up the slack after joining Vancouver via trade. He has posted one assist and a minus-six in 13 games with the club.
Those woes have pulled Vancouver back into a position of need. They are currently leaning on Kampf and Aatu Raty to operate behind top-center Elias Pettersson. Bringing in a trade option like Nazem Kadri, Pavel Zacha, or Alexander Wennberg would go far in giving Vancouver a bit more command over their top-six. The center position has proven to be highly sought after through the early year, which could drive up the price of any potential trades – but finding a better way to boost high-performing wingers like Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and Evander Kane could make the price worthwhile.
Johnston mentioned that Garland could be a candidate to be moved to a club looking for a veteran presence. Vancouver could also begin to tap into their prospect pool to swing a deal, potentially dangling high-upside prospects like Kirill Kudryavtsev, Danila Klimovich, or Anthony Romani. Any of the three, packaged alongside draft capital, should be enough to land Vancouver an impactful veteran who can step right into the top-six.
The Canucks don’t need it all from any new additions. Boeser is more than capable of handling the goal-scoring on the second-line, while Kiefer Sherwood or Linus Karlsson could bring a hard-nosed punch even if the team parts with Garland. They only need a semblance of consistency to help pull together the top of their lineup. Rebuilders like the San Jose Sharks could be a perfect trade partner to find that sort of impact before Vancouver slips further down the Western Conference standings. But with a 3-6-1 record in their last 10 games, and no support in sight as things stand, Vancouver may need to step up as an aggressive buyer to make sure they can keep their year afloat.
Alex Wennberg can indeed be had.
Vancouver has an entire laundry list of needs, It starts with a competent GM!
*owner
The Bruins are better than the Canucks right now and Zacha has been a big part of that. The Bruins aren’t trading him at the moment.
Schenn. Would like to see the blues start the retool now. Strike while the fire is hot
No thank you; but we’ll take Pius Suter back. And a 2nd line centre likely in the haul for Hughes … one step forward three steps back
I’m so confused by the Nucks direction. If they have a direction.
Rudderless ship for sure. They refused to rebuild after the twins and have been stuck in purgatory since. Owner is a major problem can’t get a practice facility done meanwhile a non existent PWHL team was able to get one.
I hear Anaheim is willing to move Zegras – cheap! Oops missed again…
Josh Norris for Brock Boeser. Centers are a need for many teams. Buffalo has one who has just started skating. ;)
JT Miller is available.
Reichel wasn’t an instant fix? Huh , Who knew?
Good luck with that. Carolina has needed a 2c for years.