Philip Holm has been the best defenceman this season for the Utica Comets, who rely upon him in every situation. He’s third on the team in scoring with 11 goals and 29 points in 42 games. He has 9 points in his last 8 games.
So it’s no surprise that the Canucks, in need of a defenceman with Chris Tanev out of the lineup, would turn to Holm. But it’s also shouldn’t come as a surprise if the timing of the call-up fuels speculation and rumours.
Does Holm’s call-up mean a trade is coming? Is it happening now? Tomorrow? Soon?
Probably not. But the 2018 trade deadline is less than two weeks away and any trade of a defenceman would surely lead to Holm getting into the Canucks lineup. The Canucks have one defenceman who definitely should be on the trading block and a few others who could potentially be on the move.
One of them is the injured Tanev, who suffered a minor fracture in his leg while blocking a shot and is expected to be out of the lineup for at least ten days. Tanev is a key component of the Canucks defence corps when healthy, but would also likely fetch the largest return if the Canucks were to explore a trade.
Erik Gudbranson is the more likely candidate to be moved, even if the Canucks are exploring re-signing the sizeable defenceman. As a pending UFA, Gudbranson’s contract demands are likely to be far larger than the Canucks should be willing to pay, making a trade the best option.
Polled some agents on what a new Gudbranson deal would look like for #Canucks . Most feel 4 years and 4.2 million is fair while some would ask for 4.7 mill per because of his u-f-a status.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 13, 2018
The Canucks have reportedly received calls regarding the availability of Ben Hutton, who appears to have fallen out of favour with head coach Travis Green. In his rookie season, Hutton seemed like a certain top-four defenceman and there were still indicators during his sophomore slump last season that he was on the right path. But struggles this season and a series of recent healthy scratches might mean the Canucks would be willing to move Hutton if the right deal came along.
There are no rumours surrounding Michael Del Zotto, but there perhaps should be. The Canucks still seem several years from contending for the playoffs and the Canucks could boost their rebuild by adding a prospect and/or a pick or two by moving Del Zotto now rather than in the final year of his two-year contract next season.
Holm’s addition to the NHL roster at this time doesn’t mean a trade is coming, of course. The blueliner is likely just here as insurance with Tanev out and may not even get into a game. He certainly deserves a chance to get into the lineup: the Canucks have gotten just 13 goals from defencemen this season and, while there’s no guarantee Holm’s 11 AHL goals will translate, there’s little harm in giving Holm a chance.
Holm is also a restricted free agent at the end of this season, so it would behoove the Canucks to get him into some NHL action to judge what they have in him and see if he can be part of their future.
So far, the closest thing to NHL action for Holm has been the preseason. The more limited time and space of North American hockey seemed to be a shock to Holm’s system early, but he adjusted and got better as the preseason progressed. He showed a knack for getting his shot through traffic, something with which the Canucks have frequently struggled, and that knack has helped him produce on the Comets’ power play, with 7 of his 11 goals coming with the man advantage.
Will he get power play time with the Canucks? Alex Edler is unlikely to be taken off the first power play unit, but Holm could step in for Del Zotto on the second unit. But that’s putting the cart before the horse: first, Holm needs to get into the lineup. Judging from recent history, that likely means a scratch for one of Hutton or Derrick Pouliot.
