Senators Rumors: 3 Canucks Targeted Amidst Fire Sale

The Vancouver Canucks just made their second big trade of the season by sending Kiefer Sherwood off to the San Jose Sharks. This further pushes the narrative that the Canucks are selling whatever they can to do a better rebuild than the one in the mid-to-late 2010s. They are dead last and not salvaging this season. Their only hope is to continue to get good assets in return for their players, and there are more that could be moved.

The Ottawa Senators are a team that is reportedly interested in some Canucks players. Bruce Garrioch said, "The Senators would likely be interested in Filip Hronek, Conor Garland, and Jake DeBrusk."

These aren't necessarily three players that are the easiest to get with their contracts and willingness to leave after recent contract signings. Hronek did lose his defense partner in Quinn Hughes, but is in year two of an eight-year deal at $7.25 million AAV with a no-move clause in effect for two more years. Garland is a more interesting one, because if the Canucks trade him this season, they can send him anywhere. His no-move clause kicks in ahead of next season, but he has no trade protection at the moment. He is signed for six more years at $6 million AAV. And finally, DeBrusk chose the Canucks as his free agent destination in 2024 and is under contract for five more years at $5.5 million AAV, with a no-move clause though.

The no-move clauses always make things difficult, and for a should-be rebuilding Canucks, it isn't easy. In Hronek's case, he could continue to be the number one RD on a much better team in Ottawa, if they got goaltending, and play alongside Jake Sanderson, who is close to Hughes in skill level. Claude Giroux and David Perron might be done in Ottawa after the season, while Michael Amadio and Drake Batherson could follow the season after. There will be more than enough room up front for players like Garland or DeBrusk to fit in nicely.

The baseline for any of these players would have to be a first-round pick, especially because the Canucks don't have to move them and due to their term. On a better team, they would all do much better, especially one who hasn't had problems scoring like the Senators in comparison to the Canucks.