NHL Rumors: Canucks Eyeing Lightning's Anthony Cirelli In Bold Off-Season Move
The Vancouver Canucks aren’t the only NHL team eyeing major changes this offseason. The Tampa Bay Lightning, despite their recent success, may also be looking to shake things up.
By any measure, the Lightning have been one of the league’s most dominant teams over the past decade. They’ve reached the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons, last missing in 2017, and have captured two Stanley Cups while making a third Finals appearance.
But in the NHL, past achievements mean little—what matters is recent performance. And lately, the Lightning have struggled, bowing out in the first round three years in a row.
Their latest defeat, a 4-1 series loss to the Florida Panthers, marked their second early exit at the hands of their in-state rivals in three seasons.
With core players like Victor Hedman (35), Nikita Kucherov (31), and Andrei Vasilevskiy (30) not getting any younger, Tampa Bay’s window for another championship run is narrowing.
To make matters trickier, their roster is loaded with hefty contracts—most of which include no-trade or no-movement clauses, severely limiting their flexibility this summer.
Of their key contributors, only two players lack trade protection heading into next season: Brandon Hagel (a steal at $6.5M after a 90-point year) and Anthony Cirelli.
And with the Canucks in the market for a top-six centre, Cirelli’s name stands out as a particularly intriguing option.
Why Cirelli Fits the Canucks’ Needs
Cirelli is coming off a career-best season (27 goals, 59 points) and earned his first Selke Trophy nomination—though he’s received votes for the award in each of his seven full NHL seasons. Defensively elite and still in his prime at 27, he checks many boxes for Vancouver.
However, there are reasons Tampa Bay might consider moving him. For one, his full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, meaning the Lightning have a brief window to deal him without restrictions.
Additionally, while his regular-season production has been strong, his playoff numbers have dipped—just one assist in five games against Florida this year and two points in five games against Toronto in 2024. (The lone exception was a six-point series against the Panthers in 2023.)
Still, those concerns wouldn’t diminish his value on the trade market—in fact, they might be outweighed by the massive return Tampa Bay could demand.
The Canucks’ Potential Fit—And the Cost
Vancouver desperately needs a two-way centre, and Cirelli would be an excellent complement to Elias Pettersson. His defensive prowess could alleviate some of Pettersson’s responsibilities, allowing him to focus more on offense. A Pettersson-Cirelli duo would give opponents fits at both ends of the ice.
But acquiring him won’t be easy—or cheap.
Tampa Bay isn’t rebuilding; they’re retooling. With only $6M in cap space, they’ll prioritize NHL-ready talent or assets that can be flipped for immediate help. That means the Canucks’ 15th overall pick might not be enough on its own.
A realistic starting point could be Tom Willander, a near-NHL-ready defenseman who could slot in behind Hedman. But Willander alone likely wouldn’t seal the deal—Tampa could also demand the 15th pick, a young NHLer like Filip Chytil or Nils Höglander, or some combination of assets.
That said, if Cirelli becomes available, the Canucks should at least explore a deal. The fit is too good to ignore—but whether they can meet Tampa’s demands remains the biggest question.
Image - Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn
