The Vancouver Canucks are looking to make win-now trades to bolster their playoff chances, even as they await the return of key players.
NHL insider Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period discussed the Canucks’ strategy ahead of the deadline appearing on TSN Radio on Monday.
Pagnotta emphasized the franchise’s plans to strengthen the roster while navigating some internal struggles involving J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson and waiting for the return of key defenseman Filip Hronek
“They’re out there looking to add to their roster,” Pagnotta said. “They want to add a top-four defenseman, even with Hronek out–when he comes back–they still want to amplify that blue line and add another defender back there who’s capable of playing top-four minutes.”
The Canucks have weathered a turbulent season reasonably well considering they have missed key players throughout the first two months of play.
Vancouver is leading the Western Conference wild-card race with a 17-10-7 record and 41 points even though the team missed Thatcher Demko at the start of the season and J.T. Miller lately because of a personal leave of absence.
Pagnotta highlighted the potential for improvement as the roster gets healthier.
“I think we’ll see better performances from Pettersson and Miller, and with that, along with one of the top goalies in the league in Demko, they’re going to be dangerous in the second half of the season,” Pagnotta said. “They’re a good team. I don’t think where they finish (in the regular-season standings) matters to them within the playoff strutcure.
”Get in, get the job done, and go from there.”
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, speaking on Sportsnet’s “Halford and Brough Show” on Dec. 18, reported that the Canucks are focusing on trading for a top-four defenseman, which aligns with Pagnotta’s report about the franchise’s plans.
“I do think that they’ve been pretty active here in the last few days, trying to go after a defenseman to fulfill some of the needs that we’ve talked about all season long,” Seravalli said. “That efficient puck mover.
“I’m told it’s something more substantial that they’re working on,” Seravalli said. “That they’re looking for a top-four defenseman addition.“