The Anaheim Ducks are trying to move Frank Vatrano’s contract, and the Vancouver Canucks at least checked in. But for Vancouver, the math still comes back to the same place: money in, money out.
Rick Dhaliwal said on the Oilers Now show that the Ducks may need to attach sweeteners to get a deal done.
“Ducks are going to have to add sweeteners to get rid of players. Someone told me today Ducks called Canucks to see if they would take Vatrano off their hands…But again Vancouver is money in, money out. Budget is tight.”
Dhaliwal also made clear the Canucks’ spending picture hasn’t changed.
“Money is tight right now. They aren’t going to overspend…Anything in Vancouver is money out, money in. Owner is going into a rebuild, so he’s saying money is tight.”
There’s another wrinkle here, too. Vatrano has deferred money attached to the contract, and that’s not the kind of structure Vancouver ownership is eager to take on. As Taj noted, there is no way the Canucks ownership are going to want to pay it.
From PuckPedia: “3 million per year is deferred salary to be paid out at 900K per year for 10 years beginning in 2035.”
Elsewhere in the rumor mill, Shane Wright’s situation in Seattle is drawing plenty of attention. Mike Gould of Daily Faceoff reported that the Kraken and Wright’s agent are looking for a new home for the 22-year-old center, who dropped from 44 points two years ago to 27 last year. Seattle is said to be seeking fair market value for him, and Gould laid out five possible landing spots.
Calgary Flames could be in the mix if they’re hunting for a center that fits their trajectory. If Seattle wants an NHL roster player back, Connor Zary or Morgan Frost could make sense.
Chicago Blackhawks have the draft capital to work with, including three 2027 first-round picks, though they may not want to part with major assets.
New Jersey Devils already made a run at a young center in Barrett Hayton, with the Mammoth matching the offer sheet, and they picked up future first-rounders in the Simon Nemec trade. Wright would give them added depth.
Pittsburgh Penguins, with Kyle Dubas looking to buy low on young, skilled players, may not have a roster player to send back, but they do have seven second-round picks over the next three drafts.
Toronto Maple Leafs added plenty of depth in free agency, but they still don’t have many young centers in the organization. Their only first-round pick in the next two drafts is the Colorado Avalanche’s 2027 first-rounder.
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Canucks Suddenly Face A Huge Elias Pettersson Decision
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Petterssons trade value is not what it was after a disappointing season for both him and the Canucks, so the front office is facing a delicate balancing act. If Vancouver does eventually decide to move him, the return would have to make long-term sense, and the current wait suggests the club would rather be patient than sell low just to force a resolution. [Read more 🡒]