NHL Rumors: Canucks Are Refusing To Move One Thing In Trade Talks

The Vancouver Canucks want a center, but not at the cost rivals keep asking for. 

Multiple teams have pushed for the 2026 first-round pick, and Vancouver is resisting. The next draft is a strong one; the club does not know where that pick will land, and recent history says to be patient. 

They kept the selection that became Braeden Cootes instead of flipping it, and early returns have validated that bet. Until an offer checks every box, that first stays put.

The thing about the #Canucks trying to solve their issues at centre with Pavel Zacha is that he was ALSO their plan for fixing their issues at centre in 2022.
Here's a near identical clip, spot the differences!https://t.co/T2qSWPrFdq pic.twitter.com/77r3qxUT2u

— Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) October 26, 2025

The ask, the injuries, and the Bruins connection
Filip Chytil’s concussion and Teddy Blueger’s stop-start availability have stretched the depth chart, which is why Vancouver has worked the phones for months. 

Pavel Zacha has been on the radar dating back to summer, with on-and-off conversations with the Boston Bruins. Casey Mittelstadt has also come up. 

The issue is price. 

Top-six centers rarely move without a first attached, and Zacha’s reasonable cap number invites a bidding war. That is exactly the scenario the Canucks are trying to avoid. They will not move an unprotected first, and even protections introduce risks they are not eager to swallow.

A troubling past 48hrs for Lukas Reichel after being traded, to say the least. Apparently the car company he booked closed 1hr before he showed up to retrieve his rental. pic.twitter.com/7Ntb86JfmD

— Chicago Blackhawks News Hub (@HawksNewsHub) October 27, 2025

Reichel’s audition and the backup plans
Vancouver added Lukas Reichel for a 2027 fourth as a low-cost swing. The speed pops, the faceoff work needs time, and the hope is that usage upticks lead to confidence and offense. 

If that internal bet hits, the urgency eases. Externally, management can chase middle-six help without mortgaging the future, target shorter-term stopgaps, or wait for prices to cool. The stance is firm but not absolute. If a long-term, team-controlled center becomes available at a sensible number, the door opens a crack. 

Short of that, the first-rounder stays in the drawer.

Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images