As the Olympic trade freeze looms, all eyes are on the Vancouver Canucks - and for good reason. With the team sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings and firmly in rebuild mode, it’s not a question of if a trade is coming, but when. And if history is any indication, late January tends to be when Vancouver makes its biggest moves.
Over the past three seasons, the Canucks have executed significant trades on either January 30 or 31 - each one reshaping the roster in meaningful ways. Whether it’s been parting with a franchise cornerstone or acquiring a key piece for a playoff push, Vancouver’s front office, led by Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin, has made this window a pivotal stretch on the calendar.
Let’s take a closer look at the recent trend that’s made late January a defining period for the Canucks.
January 30, 2023 - The Bo Horvat Deal
This was the moment Vancouver officially turned the page on a major chapter. The Canucks dealt captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders, signaling the start of a new era. In return, they received Anthony Beauvillier, promising prospect Aatu Räty, and a 2023 first-round pick.
At the time, it was a bold move - trading away a leader and consistent producer in Horvat. Beauvillier had a brief stint in Vancouver before being flipped elsewhere, and the first-rounder was later packaged in a deal with Detroit to acquire defenseman Filip Hronek. That leaves Räty as the lone piece still in the organization from the original trade, a player the Canucks hope can grow into a long-term contributor.
January 31, 2024 - The Elias Lindholm Splash
One year later, the Canucks flipped the script. Instead of selling, they went all-in, acquiring center Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames.
The price tag? Substantial.
Vancouver shipped out Andrei Kuzmenko, two prospects in Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo, along with a 2024 first- and fourth-round pick.
Lindholm proved to be a valuable addition during the Canucks’ 2024 playoff run, providing stability down the middle and two-way reliability. But his stay was short-lived - he departed in the offseason to sign a long-term deal with the Boston Bruins. While his impact was felt in the short term, the long-term cost of the trade is still being evaluated, especially with Kuzmenko and the draft picks no longer part of the Canucks' future.
January 31, 2025 - A Double Deal Day
Then came 2025, and Vancouver didn’t just make one move - they made two. First, in a blockbuster deal with the New York Rangers, the Canucks sent J.T.
Miller, Erik Brännström, and Jackson Dorrington to New York. In return, they received defenseman Victor Mancini, center Filip Chytil, and a 2025 first-round pick.
This was a seismic shift. Miller, a vocal leader and top-line player, has since been named captain of the Rangers. Meanwhile, both Mancini and Chytil have taken on meaningful roles in Vancouver’s lineup, giving the Canucks some young, NHL-ready talent as they retool.
But the front office wasn’t done. Later that same day, Vancouver struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, acquiring forward Drew O'Connor and defenseman Marcus Pettersson. In exchange, they sent out the first-round pick from New York, along with Melvin Fernström, Vincent Desharnais, and Danton Heinen.
It’s a trade that’s aged well for Vancouver. O'Connor and Pettersson have become key pieces in the lineup - steady, reliable, and fitting the mold of what the Canucks are trying to build. On Pittsburgh’s end, only Fernström remains from the return package, underscoring the value Vancouver got out of the deal.
What Comes Next?
With January drawing to a close and the Olympic trade freeze approaching, the Canucks are once again in the spotlight. They’re in 32nd place, and several pending unrestricted free agents could be on the move as the team looks to stockpile assets and build for the future.
Given the pattern of the past three years, the next 24 to 48 hours could be critical. Rutherford and Allvin have shown they’re not afraid to make bold decisions - whether it’s shipping out a captain, bringing in a rental for a playoff push, or reshaping the core entirely.
For Canucks fans, the end of January has become less about the calendar and more about the clock - ticking toward another franchise-altering moment.