I think I was literally knocked off my feet on Monday when Jim Benning traded Hunter Shinkaruk to the Calgary Flames for Markus Granlund.
Thirty seconds into my run, I caught the toe of my shoe on a rough edge and took a tumble. With my knee bleeding, I limped home to clean up—and that's when I saw the news that the trade had been completed.
The deal came out of left field, which I think is why there was such a strong negative reaction. I figured I'd think on it a bit before weighing in.
For me, the most troubling element is that it's a lateral move at best in terms of rebuilding the franchise. Shinkaruk is a 21-year-old in the second year of his entry-level contract and has been dealt for a 22-year-old who is finishing up his own entry-level deal. Granlund will be a restricted free agent this summer and will be waiver-eligible next season.
Even more bafflingly, Granlund's a centre. He's joining a group that currently includes Henrik Sedin, Brandon Sutter, Bo Horvat, Linden Vey, Jared McCann and Adam Cracknell.
Of course, Sutter and Vey are currently injured, which makes me feel like this deal was made more for the present, to shore up the team through the last six weeks of the season.
Despite the recent losing streak, Cracknell and McCann have looked pretty decent since Vey went down after the Anaheim game—and Vey's not expected to be out long term.
So, the team has way too many centres right now and yet, Jim Benning said in Monday's conference call with the media, per
Thomas Drance at Canucks.com, that he was concerned about not having room for Shinkaruk on left wing—next season—saying the team is high on Brendan Gaunce and looking for Anton Rodin to come back to North America after a stint in Sweden.
At least we know Gaunce, drafted 26th overall in 2012, is still in the Canucks mix. Shinkaruk, picked 24th overall in 2013, is now the second Mike Gillis first-rounder to be traded in less than two months, after 2011's 29th-overall pick Nicklas Jensen was dealt to the Rangers for Emerson Etem in early January.
Though Benning paid lip service on Monday to the idea that Granlund can play any position, the player doesn't see himself that way:
Also, I'm troubled by this statement:
So the deal was more about moving Shinkaruk, who could easily have played out the season in Utica or even been an extra chip in a bigger trade package later this week? Instead, the Canucks acquire a player they don't really need?
As for the player himself, Granlund has a strong work ethic but isn't exactly a guy who mixes it up. He's listed at 6'0" and 178 pounds—basically the same as the 6'0", 179-pound Jared McCann, who we're constantly being told needs to get bigger and stronger.
In his 31 games with the Flames this season, Granlund did see some time on special teams, averaging over a minute a game on the penalty kill and 25 seconds a game on the power play. Two of his seven points on the year actually came in shorthanded situations.
Granlund is in Vancouver and ready to hit the ice for practice with his new team today.
Best-case scenario—this trade turns out to mirror last year's acquisition of Sven Baertschi, who has improved significantly since joining the Canucks after stagnating in the Flames organization.
Baertschi and Granlund were both drafted by the Flames in 2011, three days before current Canucks assistant general manager John Weisbrod joined Calgary as the assistant general manager of player personnel. So, Weisbrod would have been familiar with both players from his two and a half seasons in Calgary, but he didn't have a hand in scouting or drafting either of them.
Benning said Weisbrod's influence was part of the decision-making process for this deal:
Weisbrod seems like his sphere of influence continues to increase here in Vancouver. After being hired as vice president of player personnel in 2014, he was promoted to assistant general manager last summer and is starting to develop a bit more of a public persona.
Click here to read a feature on Weisbrod by David Ebner that ran in last week's
Globe and Mail.
It's too bad the Canucks couldn't have gotten their hands on the Flames' fourth-round pick from that 2011 draft—Johnny Gaudreau.
I'm surprised that the organization was so eager to give up on Shinkaruk. An AHL All-Star this year who had improved upon his 31-point rookie season with 21 goals and 39 points so far this year, the development of the speedy sniper seemed like it was headed in the right direction.
Also—Shinkaruk played in Medicine Hat! He was linemates in junior with Emerson Etem! Does the Willie connection mean nothing to this team anymore??
Shinkaruk has joined the Flames' AHL farm team in Stockton for the moment, but he'll get a chance to make a name for himself in his hometown once he gets his shot with the Flames.
Nothing yet on today's main practice. This is all I have for you so far:
Stay tuned to see what other surprises the Canucks will have in store for us over the next seven days.
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