{"id":6917,"date":"2017-02-22T22:10:33","date_gmt":"2017-02-23T03:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=6917"},"modified":"2017-02-22T22:10:33","modified_gmt":"2017-02-23T03:10:33","slug":"yard-sale-time-for-vancouver-canucks-to-sell-at-trade-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/02\/22\/yard-sale-time-for-vancouver-canucks-to-sell-at-trade-deadline\/","title":{"rendered":"Yard Sale- Time for Vancouver Canucks to Sell at Trade Deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the second consecutive year the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> appear to be in the sellers category ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. Though they sit six points out of a playoff spot, and are technically labeled “sellers”, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to sell.<\/p>\n

General manager Jim Benning<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0finds the team floating in familiar waters. Ahead of the 2015-2016 deadline Vancouver sat near the bottom of the Pacific Division (24-24-12), at the 60 game mark. Many suspected a fire sell. However to the dismay of the Canucks fan base no moves were made; despite carrying two expiring contracts of some value in Dan Hamhuis<\/a><\/strong>, and Radim Vrbata<\/a><\/strong>. Both players could have added value to a contending team, the Canucks did nothing and subsequently lost both players\u00a0in free agency. For a team that is in desperate need of picks and other young assets, the team failed to build the prospect pool, especially in (what was considered) a deep NHL entry draft<\/a>. \u00a0This lack of movement represented a major mis-calculation by ownership and management. To make matters worse Vancouver relinquished their second round selection to the Florida Panthers<\/a> in the Erik Gudbranson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0deal.<\/p>\n

Yard Sale- Time for Vancouver Canucks to Sell at Trade Deadline<\/h2>\n

With the 2017 deadline just under a week away Vancouver has almost the exact record as a year ago. The bottom line is that Trevor Linden<\/a><\/strong> and Benning need to learn from their mistakes, and trade away the expiring assets for pieces that can help the team in the future.<\/p>\n

Vancouver\u00a0ranks 24th in the league in goals for, and rank in the bottom of league possession numbers sporting a 48.5% Corsi. Their roster simply isn’t good enough to be competitive. Management threw Loui Eriksson<\/a><\/strong> a six-year, $36-million contract in hopes that he would rekindle some of the magic he found with Daniel Sedin<\/a><\/strong> and Henrik Sedin<\/a><\/strong> at the international level. It has not worked out. While Eriksson has produced decent Corsi numbers (51%). He is on pace for his lowest points per game percentage of his career at 0.39, further solidifying the fan bases plea for a youthful rejuvenation.<\/p>\n

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Word is Linden and Aquilini went to LA on separate business. Team adamant it is NOT trade deadline related whatsoever #Canucks<\/a><\/p>\n

— Satiar Shah (@SatiarShah) February 22, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n