Vancouver Canucks GM Confirms Trade Deadline Plans

The Vancouver Canucks are one of the biggest surprises this season as they've been dominating the rest of the league all season long. The Canucks have posted a 29-11-4 record on the year and sit atop the Pacific division. GM Patrik Allvin has already pulled off two trades this season, could more be coming?

It sure sounds like it. Allvin met up with Sportsnet and commented on what the team's direction would be ahead of March 8:

Will you be aggressive at the deadline?
Well, I think I owe it to the players. The players dictate how good we are and how they're buying into the way we want to play. We know that they are capable of playing at this high level. And if they continue to do that, then it's on me to make sure I support them and give them opportunities to be successful.

The Canucks currently project to have $1.2 million in dead cap space to work with and do have forward Andrei Kuzmenko, who is making $5.5 million and been healthy scratched several times this season. Teams have been calling about the asking price but so far no deal for Allvin. It's likely Kuzmenko will be shipped out prior to the deadline to help balance out the finances.

Two players to keep an eye on for Vancouver trade targets include Vladimir Tarasenko of the Ottawa Senators and Jake Guentzel of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rutherford and Allvin know Guentzel extremely well from their days together in Pittsburgh and if the Pens are out of the playoff picture in a month or so, look for the Canucks to do whatever they can to get Kyle Dubas to agree to trading Guentzel.

Photo credit:  Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports