Carol Schram: Can the Vancouver Canucks afford to deal a defenseman at the deadline? Closing in on a playoff spot but still dealing with a steady stream of injuries on the blue line, here's a look at the Vancouver Canucks' defensive depth and whether or not they'll be able to make a deal at the trade deadline.

Thank you Carol!!

Thank you Carol!!
- Codes1087

yep. we keep looking at our d and wondering who other teams are interested in, who might be the most expendable, who would garner the biggest return and who JB might be most willing to part with?

tough decisions to be made and hysteria to plan for.

Biega at TDL, Edler in the off season. Would be the best way to do it imo but chances are Edler will be here at least till his contract is done.

Tanev doesn't have any NTC kick in until July 1st, This is technically his last RFA year and thus could not have protection.

Tanev doesn't have any NTC kick in until July 1st, This is technically his last RFA year and thus could not have protection.
- Retinalz

he's been playing with sbisa on the 3rd pairing (though all 3 pairings have been plaing pretty equal time so it's probably nothing). I

I dont know why, but he's the only guy I see being moved right now.... and the only guy I want to see moved right now other than Edler, given his age/contract/ the return we could potentially get for him.

Nice blog!



i like the idea of keeping our D intact.

I don't think we'll be making any big moves until the off-season, but if the bottom fell out i'd be in favor of moving on from Hansen and Miller (tho both have played awesome this year).

Tanev will be moved if anyone...

The guy is according to some on this board, our best d man, so I say trade him now. Let him play until the TDL and then trade him to a legit team will to part with youth for a cup run with a guy that has been to the show before.

He'll give us our best return.

I think Hutton or Tanev make the most sense. Tanev would likely be after expansion for maximum return(teams get to protect their 3 guys, and we protect ours, making them stronger). I love having Tanev here, but as Carol mentioned he does get injured a bit. Some fans may see this as a red flag, but he is a difference maker the games he plays. Highest return for us, and by the time we compete again will be outside of his prime years. Guddy can fill in for the time being, not as effective but could be in a season or 2.

Hutton makes a lot of sense as well due to the emergence of tryamkin showing top 4 capabilities, and Edler not being moved. Tryamkin will also get either the same bridge Hutton got, or a long term deal(the smart move). Stetcher also shows that he is effective on the PP. He is one of the few bright spots on PP1. This makes Hutton expendable, but as he has quite a bit of potential as a top 4 and PP2 he could also get a decent return.

he's been playing with sbisa on the 3rd pairing (though all 3 pairings have been plaing pretty equal time so it's probably nothing). I

I dont know why, but he's the only guy I see being moved right now.... and the only guy I want to see moved right now other than Edler, given his age/contract/ the return we could potentially get for him.
- Crazybagoham

If we assume Edler isn't going anywhere.
Gudbrason is resigned.
Sbisa is lost to LV
Tryamkin, Hutton, Stetcher are kept in the fold, then Tanev is the best trade chip.

I agree with Carol that we don't have the depth to really move anyone on teh backend at this point.

Nice blog!



i like the idea of keeping our D intact.

I don't think we'll be making any big moves until the off-season, but if the bottom fell out i'd be in favor of moving on from Hansen and Miller (tho both have played awesome this year).
- dbot

Me too! If we could trade Miller/ 1 of the D/Hansen for a young scoring winger like JB wants ( I cannot honestly think of 1 that a team wants to trade other than JVR and ) I would like this team even more going into next season

MG made a serious error not trading Edler before his NTC kicked in and he kept on getting injured every season after that deal.

Same with Tanev... should trade him before the NTC kicks in the way Montreal did with Subban.

Thanks Carol . Edler is expected to play tomorrow according to Joey Kenworth and others on Twitter

Me too! If we could trade Miller/ 1 of the D/Hansen for a young scoring winger like JB wants ( I cannot honestly think of 1 that a team wants to trade other than JVR and ) I would like this team even more going into next season
- Crazybagoham

Tanev to Mtl for Gallagher ?

I think Hutton or Tanev make the most sense. Tanev would likely be after expansion for maximum return(teams get to protect their 3 guys, and we protect ours, making them stronger). I love having Tanev here, but as Carol mentioned he does get injured a bit. Some fans may see this as a red flag, but he is a difference maker the games he plays. Highest return for us, and by the time we compete again will be outside of his prime years. Guddy can fill in for the time being, not as effective but could be in a season or 2.

Hutton makes a lot of sense as well due to the emergence of tryamkin showing top 4 capabilities, and Edler not being moved. Tryamkin will also get either the same bridge Hutton got, or a long term deal(the smart move). Stetcher also shows that he is effective on the PP. He is one of the few bright spots on PP1. This makes Hutton expendable, but as he has quite a bit of potential as a top 4 and PP2 he could also get a decent return.
- Retinalz

Disagreed, I think Hutton should be part of this future core with horvat (tryamkin/Stecher as well) so I think those 3 should be untouchable. I wouldnt like to lose any of them..... and if we did trade 1, we better be getting a really really exciting player back, or I'd start construction on a JB effigy

Tanev to Mtl for Gallagher ?
- dbot

Make it happen.

Me too! If we could trade Miller/ 1 of the D/Hansen for a young scoring winger like JB wants ( I cannot honestly think of 1 that a team wants to trade other than JVR and ) I would like this team even more going into next season
- Crazybagoham

If Miller hadn't shat the bed with Stl before...he'd be a perfect trade candidate.

Miller, Hansen, Tanev for Shattenkirk +.

Thanks Carol.
Although I would like to keep our top 7 intact, it will not happen because of Bettman's expansion. We would lose Sbisa through this process unless Benning decides to protect 8 skaters (highly unlikely).
With Edler on a ntc, Gudbrandson without a contract and a.new.acquisition it leaves Tanev or Sbisa being exposed unless 1 of them gets traded before expansion. Trading of any other defenseman means that we are risking losing 2 defenseman out of our system which we can not afford.

Disagreed, I think Hutton should be part of this future core with horvat (tryamkin/Stecher as well) so I think those 3 should be untouchable. I wouldnt like to lose any of them..... and if we did trade 1, we better be getting a really really exciting player back, or I'd start construction on a JB effigy
- Crazybagoham

I keep looking at Tryamkin, Stecher, Tanev and Gudbranson as playing on the right side and one of them should go... but still not against moving one of Edler or Sbisa...

how many guys can we play in our top 4 and how much $ can we tie up on the third pairing? then there is the usual injuries and it is nice to have guys that can step up and play more minutes.

Tanev to Mtl for Gallagher ?
- dbot

We could get a lot more than just Gallagher. They would need to add a 1st as well. Maybe more.

We could get a lot more than just Gallagher. They would need to add a 1st as well. Maybe more.
- Retinalz

when we talk about getting a 1st, maybe trading a dman to LV and getting their first would be the way to go?

Thanks Carol.
Although I would like to keep our top 7 intact, it will not happen because of Bettman's expansion. We would lose Sbisa through this process unless Benning decides to protect 8 skaters (highly unlikely).
With Edler on a ntc, Gudbrandson without a contract and a.new.acquisition it leaves Tanev or Sbisa being exposed unless 1 of them gets traded before expansion. Trading of any other defenseman means that we are risking losing 2 defenseman out of our system which we can not afford.
- Reubenkincade

Or we use the savings from Sbisa and get a UFA. by spending more

We could get a lot more than just Gallagher. They would need to add a 1st as well. Maybe more.
- Retinalz

when we talk about getting a 1st, maybe trading a dman to LV and getting their first would be the way to go?
- hillbillydeluxe

Vegas isn't trading their first