If you’re a Vancouver Canucks fan, you might have missed a sneaky trade that could pay dividends down the line. Just a day before the trade deadline, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin made a quiet move, sending Jett Woo to the San Jose Sharks for a younger defenseman, Jack Thompson.
This trade didn’t make waves initially-Allvin wasn’t even asked about it during his post-deadline media session. But it’s worth a closer look.
Thompson is a smooth-skating, right-shot defenseman with some untapped NHL potential. He’s already made an impact in Abbotsford, tallying nine points in his first seven games. For context, Woo had eight points in 26 games for Abbotsford this season.
Since joining the Abbotsford Canucks, Thompson has been handling all situations on the ice, even earning a spot on the top pair alongside rookie Sawyer Mynio. At 24, Thompson is two years younger than Woo, and he brings more NHL experience to the table. He’s played 34 NHL games, most of them last season with the Sharks, where he notched four goals and 10 points while averaging just under 16 minutes per game.
Thompson’s junior career was impressive too. He was part of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2022 World Juniors, contributing four points in seven games.
So, why hasn’t Thompson cracked the NHL full-time yet? If he’d stayed with the team that drafted him-the Tampa Bay Lightning-he might already be there.
Drafted in the third round in 2020, Thompson quickly rose through the ranks. By his second AHL season, he was an assistant captain, made the AHL All-Star Game, and posted 32 points in 47 games.
Syracuse Crunch head coach Joel Bouchard praised him back in 2024, saying, “He just comes to play. He’s a real man.
He acts like a man. He processes like a man.”
Despite his promise, Thompson was traded to San Jose in 2024, a move that saw Anthony Duclair head to Tampa Bay. He got a decent NHL stint with the Sharks last season, but their deep prospect pool limited his opportunities.
Now with the Canucks, Thompson has a fresh chance to break into the NHL. He’ll need a new contract as a restricted free agent this offseason, but this trade might just be the opportunity he’s been waiting for. Keep an eye on this one, Canucks fans-it could be a game-changer.