NHL Trade Rumors: Canucks To Trade Filip Hronek?

Speculation is mounting that the Vancouver Canucks may consider trading defenseman Filip Hronek this offseason, as noted by Bleacher Report's Lyle Richardson.

Hronek, who enjoyed a career-best performance with 48 points in his first full season alongside captain Quinn Hughes on the top blue-line pairing, is now a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

His camp is reportedly seeking an $8 million annual cap hit, surpassing Hughes' $7.9 million AAV, despite Hughes being a Norris Trophy finalist.

This steep asking price, coupled with Hronek's disappointing playoff performance, has fueled rumors of a potential trade.

The 26-year-old put up the best season of his six-year NHL career this season, recording five goals, 48 total points, a +33 plus/minus rating, 87 blocked shots, and 104 hits across 81 games played.

According to CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal and The Athletic's Thomas Drance, the Canucks face challenging contract negotiations with Hronek.

If the defenseman insists on his substantial salary demands, Vancouver might explore trading him to manage their cap space more efficiently.

Potential trade scenarios include swapping Hronek for another defenseman or offloading him for future assets, allowing the Canucks to reinvest in more cost-effective blue-line options. This move could provide the financial flexibility needed to bolster their roster for the upcoming season.

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