Former 40-Goal Scorer Emerges as Top Trade Target to Replace Brock Boeser in Vancouver
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
A former 40-goal scorer and second overall pick has been named as a potential trade target for General Manager Patrik Allvin to consider this summer as they try to find ways to improve their roster.
The Vancouver Canucks will be aggressive this summer, says Jim Rutherford, the team's President of Hockey Operations as they look for players that could help them reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs next April.
Several free agent options have been mentioned in recent weeks, but with the need for a legit goal-scorer in the top-six if Brock Boeser leaves on July 1st, Patrik Allvin may have to turn his attention to the trade market.
Former 40-goal scorer mentioned as potential target for the Vancouver Canucks
There's no question that the Vancouver Canucks have the assets necessary to make a big trade this summer to acquire some offensive help, but how much is Patrik Allvin willing to spend to potentially bring in someone to replace Brock Boeser's production? That's unclear at this point.
Noah Strang of Daily Hive took a look at a few options the Vancouver Canucks could aim for on the trade market this summer and among the names brought up is Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens.
"The Canucks need goal-scorers. There are few better natural snipers than Patrik Laine currently walking on planet earth. In some ways, this could be a perfect fit for the Canucks as they bring in one of the most dangerous shooters in the game." Strang said.
Laine, 27, was traded to the Montreal Canadiens last summer after a difficult end to his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but with the Habs, he was able to get back to being the goal scorer everyone knows he can be.
In 52 games with the Canadiens, the Tampere, Finland native registered 20 goals - 15 of which came on the powerplay, 13 assists, along with 14 penalty minutes and was a minus-14.
There are a couple of hurdles standing between the Vancouver Canucks and landing Patrik Laine, the first being salary as he's under contract for one more year with an AAV of $8.7 million.
Another hurdle is that it's probably unlikely that Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes will want to part with Patrik Laine in the offseason as they view him a big piece of their roster next season, with the Habs looking for back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since 2020 & 2021.
It's certainly going to be an interesting summer in Vancouver and Canucks fans are excited to see what Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford are able to do in order to turn this ship around and get the team back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Source: Noah Strang/Daily Hive
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