NHL Rumors: Senators & Canucks Becoming Trade Partners; 4 Targets Named

The Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks met at Canadian Tire Centre in the nation's capital on Tuesday night (a 2-1 Ottawa win), but the Sens' president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios couldn't wait for that to get a look at several potential Canucks' trade targets. He also made a trip to Montreal the day before to get another look at Vancouver's assets.

As Bruce Garrioch reported in the Ottawa Sun, Staios is "actively working the phones," looking for some outside pieces to improve his club.

In particular, Garrioch says, NHL executives around the league feel that the Senators are scouring the market for a right-shot defenceman and a top-six forward.

The Canucks, who are open for business and willing to trade just about anyone in the right deal, have a number of players who fit the bill for those Ottawa needs, per Garrioch.

Filip Hronek, RD
Conor Garland, F
Kiefer Sherwood, F
Jake DeBrusk, F

The insider readily admits Hronek would be awfully tough to pry loose from Vancouver, and it would take a massive blockbuster offer that it simply could not refuse.

Up front, all three of Garland, Sherwood and DeBrusk have been out there in trade rumors this season. And any of the three would be great additions for Ottawa, depending on the price.

Garrioch writes that Senators head coach Travis Green is "a huge fan" of Garland. He is having a down year this season (but who isn't in Vancouver?) with just seven goals and 22 points in 35 games thus far, and he is a pending unrestricted free agent.

Sherwood is in the same boat as a pending UFA, but he one of the only Canucks having a career year, and there are at least 20 teams with interest in acquiring the physical, two-way forward.

DeBrusk just recently entered the rumor mill, after being benched for a game in late December.