The Vancouver Canucks are heading into seller territory, and the list of names in play is starting to look real.
Reports from The Fourth Period and The Athletic say general manager Ryan Johnson is open to moving several veterans, with Jake DeBrusk, Drew O’Connor, Filip Chytil and Luke Schenn among the players drawing attention. There’s even a scenario in which Elias Pettersson gets dealt. At this point, it’s clear the Canucks are listening on more than one player, and a roster shake-up looks very much on the table.
The goal, according to the reporting, is to get younger while bringing in NHL-proven talent. That could mean dealing established pieces to teams looking for help right now and getting back younger players who still have something to prove.
The mood around the club has only gotten worse during a 10-game losing streak. After Vancouver’s ninth regulation loss of the season, Brock Boeser didn’t sugarcoat anything.
“I don’t know where the disconnect is,” he said. “I don’t know if guys just aren’t listening, if our structure isn’t working, or what it is.
It’s embarrassing.”
He probably isn’t the only one in the room feeling that way. With the losses stacking up, it doesn’t seem far-fetched that the organization will soon decide it’s time to start moving pieces.
Jake DeBrusk stands out as one of the clearest trade candidates. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston wrote that the winger doesn’t line up with the rebuild timeline.
DeBrusk has topped 20 goals five times, skates well, and is in the final season of his contract. That deal includes a full no-movement clause, meaning this is the last year he controls his destination.
Johnston also pointed out that rising salaries across the league are making his contract look more appealing. Nick Kypreos also raised questions about whether DeBrusk fits Vancouver’s long-term plans, saying he is a player the Canucks will explore trading.
Luke Schenn is another veteran who could be on the move. He may not be a top-of-the-lineup addition for the next team, but he brings a clear role and a reputation as a winner.
Schenn also described the Canucks as a team that starts with the right mindset before fading. Given the way he has been described as a player who goes full tilt all the time, it’s hard to imagine this stretch has been easy to watch from his side.
Drew O’Connor is in the mix as well. Johnston noted that the pending UFA has been logging top-line minutes, even though he profiles better in the bottom six.
He scored 17 goals for Vancouver last season, gives teams size and physical play, and has been a reliable penalty killer throughout his career. A team like the Edmonton Oilers could use that kind of help because of its depth issues.
If Vancouver decides to go bigger, Elias Pettersson could become a blockbuster option. Johnston reported that the Swede has looked much better after two rough seasons, which has made him more interesting as a trade piece. His eight-year, $92.8 million extension signed in March 2024 has been tough to justify, but that sticker shock has started to fade as salaries around the league continue to climb.
With the losses piling up, Vancouver’s front office is likely to stay active.
In Other News...
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What happens next will tell the rest of the story for Soucy and the Blue Jackets. If he goes unclaimed, hell be sent to Cleveland, a reminder of how quickly a veteran defenseman can slide from projected NHL contributor to a player trying to reestablish himself in the AHL. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Tulsky Just Clarified Carolinas Nikita Nikishin Contract Leverage
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For Vancouver, the comparison lands close to home because the way the Canucks handled Zeev Buium has been cited as a clean example of treating a 10.2(c) player like an extension of the entry-level system. It is the kind of cap and contract nuance that can shape negotiations for years, and it also shows why these cases matter beyond the immediate signing, especially when a team is trying to balance future flexibility with a players long-term value. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Linked To Former Top Pick Who May Need A Fresh Start
Kevin Korchinski has emerged as a name to watch for the Canucks as they continue sorting out their blue line and looking for young talent that fits a longer-term rebuild. The former top pick has struggled to carve out a regular NHL role in Chicago, with limited action this season and much of last year spent in the AHL, which has only sharpened the sense that a change of scenery could help unlock more of the upside that once made him such a coveted prospect.
What makes Vancouver an interesting fit is the opportunity it could provide. The Canucks are in a position to offer more playing time than Korchinski has found with the Blackhawks, and that kind of runway can matter for a defenseman still trying to establish himself. For Chicago, the question is whether the organization can keep him in the mix at the NHL level or whether it eventually has to make a tougher decision to move on. [Read more 🡒]