The NHL trade deadline arrives Monday, February 29, and this year's is a special one for two reasons: first, it's on a Leap Day, which isn't even a real day of the year. That means nothing anyone does even counts. GMs are free to go buckwild.
And second, for the first time in a long time, the Canucks appear to be sellers. I say "appear to be" because, while almost all of us can agree that the team would be best-served selling off their unwanted and expiring contracts for prospects and picks wherever possible, the guy in charge of making that happen may think otherwise. The Canucks, after all, are only just eight points out of a playoff spot. One might be tempted to add an impact player or two in an effort to get them there.
One mustn't, however. That would be hot, molten stupidity, and I'd like to believe Jim Benning and company don't need me to tell them. But just in case they do, here's a simple list of dos and donts for the Canucks at the 2016 NHL trade deadline.
DO: Be a seller.
If it wasn't a complete tactical blunder, I'd have rejoiced at the recent statement that Linden Vey, Matt Bartkowski, Ronalds Kenins, Adam Cracknell, Chris Higgins, Brandon Prust and Yannick Weber were all available, since it meant the Canucks were finally choosing a direction.
The Canucks have waffled all season on whether they'd be loading or unloading. For many fans, it's been frustrating. I've actually been fine with it. Seems to me that even if the Canucks are running a warehouse sale, they need to make it seem like the third floor of a Nordstrom -- they want people paying top dollar, and that doesn't happen if you're screaming "EVERYTHING MUST GO!!".
So I didn't like that they screamed it this week. But I did like what they were screaming, since, seriously, everything must go. They are sellers. That's the right call. Now is not the time to bulk up for a playoff run. That'd be like commissioning another X-Files script from Chris Carter. No. Stop. No good can come of this. Do not buy.
DON'T: Trade a prized prospect for the player that prospect will become if he doesn't reach his ceiling.
I can see the sense in the Hunter Shinkaruk trade. Shinkaruk looks promising, but his AHL numbers hardly guarantee NHL superstardom. In fact, they're pretty much identical to Markus Granlund's AHL numbers, and the slightly older Granlund has settled into a bottom-six NHL forward. If that's the sort of player the team thinks Shinkaruk is going to become, it seems perfectly reasonable to just trade for that player now, when the Canucks are desperate for a graduate class of prospects -- prom prospects, if you will.
But they can't be pulling that crap again on Monday. It's too unglamorous. Nobody wants to be told their prized prospect really isn't all that good. They want to realize it over time for themselves. Among the Canucks' needs on deadline day is a little bit of fan goodwill, and they won't get any by parting with more prospects. Save that crap for the summer.
DO: Acquire young defenders.
Jim Benning has done a truly admirable job rebuilding the Canucks' prom prospects, adding underachieving, twentysomething forwards from all over and giving them a second chance in Vancouver. A few of these gambles look to be paying off. But the defence still needs work. On the backend, Andrey Pedan might be their only defensive prom prospect.
I see no reason they can't come away from the deadline with two more.
That, to me, should be the goal for the Canucks on Monday: two defensive prospects. Dan Hamhuis should be able to net one, provided he waives his no-trade clause to join a buyer. Rumours had him going to Chicago for blueliner Ville Pokka and a pick. A trade like that should be exactly what the Canucks are looking for.
As for how they might get the other one, well, they have options: Jannik Hansen is having a very tradeable season. Radim Vrbata isn't, but he's a very tradeable player on a very tradeable contract. I don't care really care how it happens -- I just expect it to.
DON'T: Extend anyone.
It's February 29, not June 30. So help me if you announce a contract extension tomorrow, Vancouver. That's not what you were supposed to be doing with your time. And if Matt Bartkowski's two-goal performance on Thursday earns him a new deal, I'm gonna lose it.
Do: The right thing.
Always do the right thing. That's it.
Don't: Go into this house.
And if you are thinking of opening this door, don't.
DO: Trade for draft picks.
Jim Benning said a worrying thing the other day:
"Earlier this week Jim Benning was asked specifically if he’d do a picks-for-veteran exchange.
— Joe (@kdchicken) February 25, 2016
“No. We’re just doing hockey trades,”"
Ugh.
Okay, first of all, Jim, you're the General Manager of a hockey team. Any trade you make is a friggin' hockey trade. That's like when people tell me I don't "act black." I am black, so I can assure you that at least one black person acts like this.
But if Benning is supposing that the swapping of veterans for picks is somehow a lesser trade call, he's out of his meaty, starchy mind. I get that he's mostly after prom prospects, but if the overall goal is to rebuild the system and set the Canucks up for the future, not just the near future, then loading up on draft picks can only help. Ryan Beich of Canucks Army agrees:
If the Canucks can somehow get a pick for Chris Higgins, or Brandon Prust, or Yannick Weber, or Matt Bartkowski, then do it. Adding something as minuscule as a 6th or 7th round pick may pay dividends in the long run (even if some salary retention is needed). So far GM Jim Benning has proven that he is very good evaluator of talent on the draft floor - so why not get as many picks as you can?
Tate Olson was picked with the 2nd to last pick in June, and he was rated by Craig Button as the 4th best prospect in the system. Get as many spins at the wheel as possible - it gives you two years to evaluate the talent. If they don't work out, then you don't sign them but by giving yourself as many picks as possibly, it will only increase your odds of finding a gem.
That's right. The Canucks aren't just shedding their undesirables in a veterans-for-picks situation: they could be getting the next Tate Olson.
Granted, "the next Tate Olson" doesn't mean much now. But it might later, if the pick pans out. And every draft pick increases the possibility of the Canucks finding the next "next guy". The guy that inspires clones. You want clones. That's what The Empire and the First Order have always understood. A Skywalker or two at the top of the lineup is nice if you can get it, but if not, you can never go wrong an army of Stormtroopers, since the most important thing is depth.
DON'T: Insist on keeping Ryan Miller if someone inquires.
The Canucks did that last offseason, rejecting an offer from the San Jose Sharks. It was moronic.
Ryan Miller is a fine goalie, but he's not worth what the Canucks are paying him, and he's no longer the best goalie in Vancouver. That would be Jacob Markstrom. So if another team wants Miller and are willing to pay anything for him, there's no reason to stand in the way. The Canucks can find a cheap, veteran on a short-term contract to back up Markstrom in the offseason.
Plus they can go to NCAA standout Thatcher Demko, their top goaltending prospect, tell him the coast is clear, and sign him to a pro contract with minimal fuss.
DO: Stay hydrated.
It's a busy day out there. Lots of action. Be sure to drink a lot of fluids.
DON'T: F*** this up.
Don't you dare.
