Insider Says Canucks Aren't Done Making Moves: 2 Trade Candidates Listed

The Vancouver Canucks possibly aren't done making moves this offseason as they are very close to the salary cap and could move off of one or both of Dakota Joshua and Teddy Blueger. Elliotte Friedman said that he got information from a source that there have been reports about both of the bottom-6 forwards and that he doesn't think the Canucks are done tinkering.

They have re-signed Brock Boeser and extended both Connor Garland and Thatcher Demko on top of acquiring Evander Kane already. A number of the cheaper, young RFAs have also been re-signed to bridge deals. The team looks very similar to last season, so as of right now, the hope is that the group as a whole can bounce back and be closer to the Canucks of 2023-24 when they finished first in their division and made it to the second round instead of last season where they missed the playoffs.

The Canucks have under $1 million in projected cap space even though they have a full roster. This roster doesn't look too complete even though the depth is decent. This report that Joshua or Blueger could be moved would alter that, and maybe the Canucks use one to move out money in setting up a bigger move afterwards. There are plenty of young forwards that got time in the NHL last season who won't start the season with the Canucks including three of Aatu Raty, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Max Sasson, Linus Karlsson, Nils Aman, Arshdeep Bains, and Ty Mueller.

While only three of them are exempt from waivers, nobody who would pass through is getting picked up by another team.

Joshua has a more interesting contract if the Canucks trade him. He has three years left at $3.25 million AAV with a 12-team no-trade clause. Unfortunately for the Canucks, he took a big step back after a strong first year under contract. The 29-year-old only finished with seven goals and 14 points in 57 games even though he nearly delivered 200 hits for a third consecutive season. If he can't step his offensive game up again, it is an overpayment for the rest of his contract. He is a third line player at best as it stands.

Blueger played like a third line center and considering the center depth, will have to stay in that role this season after there is no longer J.T. Miller or Pius Suter on the team. And if Filip Chytil or Elias Pettersson get injured, then the Canucks have a real problem since Blueger will have to become a top-6 center. At this point, Vancouver shouldn't trade Blueger unless they are getting a centerman back since it is really weak down the middle, even with Raty, Sasson, and Aman able to play as well. Blueger has one year left on his contract at $1.8 million AAV and put up eight goals and 26 points in a full 2024-25 season.

We will see what the Canucks have planned, but the moves haven't been promising so far, especially seeing Arturs Silovs get dealt for a weak return.