Canucks Executing A 'Hybrid Retool'; Don't Expect These 12 Players To Be Traded

Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin made an appearance on Amazon Prime's intermission panel this week, and told the crew that his team is undergoing what he calls a 'hybrid retool.' What that really means is, from all accounts, don't expect a mass sell-off. In particular, 12 players are likely going nowhere. 

Allvin said the Quinn Hughes trade with Minnesota brought them young players who are pieces for the future, but, essentially, ready to contribute now.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin joins the Prime Monday Night Hockey crew 👀 pic.twitter.com/6OUyILBnz5

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“We felt that the package Minnesota came up with, with the younger players... it gives us a chance to step back here and retool it a little bit with a hybrid form."

This is a surprise, as the Canucks management said immediately after the trade that they were indeed buying into an actual retool, not a so-called 'hybrid' one. Ben Kuzma, in the Vancouver Province, for one, is confused by this apparent change in philosophy.

"How does the hybrid theory apply to the reconstruction, retooling, rebuilding, or whatever you want to call the course the Vancouver Canucks are attempting to chart?" asked Kuzma. "One thing is clear: It’s not crystal clear."

What does seem to be clear, according to Thomas Drance in The Athletic, is that the only players who will continue to be shopped are the pending UFAs. 

Canucks' new path forward means they will not be tearing it down

In other words, "the Canucks aren’t going to emerge from the holiday freeze intent on shedding some of the long-term contractual commitments to their bevy of young veteran skaters in their late 20s. The club wants to maintain a credible base of NHL-level contributors."

That description would include the likes of Elias Petterson (EP40), Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, and Connor Garland up front, as well as Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson on the blueline. Tyler Myers is also expected to stick around as another mentor for the young d-men.

Additionally, Drance writes, "the club feels that it’s well positioned in net," so that takes Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen off the board. 

Throw in the newly-acquired Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and you have 12 players that will very likely continue to be Canucks going forward. 

What's also clear, writes Drance, is that a complete teardown won't be happening.