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NHL Trade Rumors: With Roster Freeze Thawing, Vancouver Canucks Warming To More Deals

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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NHL Trade Rumors: With Roster Freeze Thawing, Vancouver Canucks Warming To More Deals

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin has more moves to make. He knows it. The NHL team’s fan base understands the franchise needs playmaking wingers and since they survived the Quinn Hughes deal, the opportunity is there. 

It’s time for Allvin to make additional trades to fuel a youth movement in the post-Hughes era.  

Well, it’s not exactly time. Yet. The holiday roster freeze remains until Sunday.  

Then? 

Four forwards could soon be on the move: Kiefer Sherwood, Conor Garland, Drew O’Connor and Nils Hoglander.

NHL Trade Rumor Focus On Vancouver Canucks 

At 15-18-3, the Canucks come out of the Christmas break in last place in the Pacific division, 11 points behind the Vegas Golden Knights. Allvin remains eager to start the roster reboot. The Canucks host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.

The Canucks’ locker room apparently needs an injection of top-tier, NHL-ready prospects. Specifically, playmaking wingers. They rank 28th in assists (162) and goals allowed per game (3.39). 

Here are four veteran forward assets Allvin has to help form a new team identity: 

  • Sherwood: The front office reportedly seeks a first-round draft pick for the 30-year-old rugged forward. After a hot start, his offense cooled in December.  
  • Garland: At 29 years old, his deal could be a challenge to unload before a no-trade clause kicks in.  
  • Hoglander: Unable to forge a consistent role, the 25-year-old could use a change of scenery. He has 115 career points in 298 games, but remains scoreless in five appearances this season. 
  • O’Connor: He may be only 27, but the left winger produced just 42 goals in 277 outings. His trade value may never be higher. 

Don’t forget, the Canucks have approximately $13 million committed to an aging goalie tandem. One of two 30-year-old netminders, Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen, could also be available. 

Defensemen Marcus Patterson, 30, and Tyler Myers, 35, also do not appear to fit into the proposed rebuild.

Allvin was just getting warmed up with the Hughes blockbuster.

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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