Vancouver Canucks reportedly to place key forward on the trade block less than a year after acquiring him
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images
The Vancouver Canucks are looking for ways to get younger and it appears that the club is willing to move on from a forward less than a year after they acquired him.
The winds of change are blowing through Vancouver as the Canucks have officially entered their retool/rebuilding phase by trading captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild on Friday night.
Quinn Hughes won't be the last player moved by the club in the lead up to the deadline on Friday, March 6th as the the Vancouver Canucks have reportedly made all of their pending unrestricted free agents available, along with some veteran players too.
"According to several sources, the Vancouver Canucks have let it be known that - in an effort to get younger - they are willing to listen to offers on 'veteran players.'" Elliotte Friedman said in an article for Sportsnet earlier this month.
Vancouver Canucks reportedly make forward available less than a year after acquiring him
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Vancouver Canucks are willing to trade 27-year-old winger Drew O'Connor ahead of the March 6th deadline.
However, it could prove to be a tricky deal to get done for Patrik Allvin and the Canucks' front office as they team gave him a modified no-trade clause, which included a 12-team no-trade list, when they signed him to a two-year contract extension in February.
"Re Canucks: Drew O'Connor has another year left on his contract with some no-trade protection, he's a player I believe they're willing to move." Pagnotta said on Thursday's edition of Sekeres and Price.
O'Connor, a native of Chatham, New Jersey, was traded to the Vancouver Canucks back in late January as part of the deal that saw Patrik Allvin land top-four defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"We are really happy to add to the depth of our team with the acquisitions of Marcus and Drew. Marcus has good size, reach, and makes solid decisions with the puck while Drew is an intelligent player with versatility and a bigger frame." Allvin said about the trade.
However, fans haven't been too happy with how O'Connor has performed since arriving in Vancouver, with just 21 points (11 goals, ten assists) in 63 games as a Canuck, along with a 52.4 faceoff percentage.
It's hard to gauge what Drew O'Connor could potentially land the Vancouver Canucks in terms of a return, but it's hard to imagine it being more than a third or fourth round draft pick.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 15|2459 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks reportedly to place key forward on the trade block less than a year after acquiring him Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will trade Drew O'Connor before the deadline in early March? | ||
| Yes | 1493 | 60.7 % |
| No | 966 | 39.3 % |
| List of polls | ||