Vancouver Canucks set their sites on a new trade target on the Columbus Blue Jackets
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
A former top-five pick has been suggested as a potential trade target for General Manager Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks leading up to the deadline.
As we inch closer to the deadline in early March, the Vancouver Canucks are going to be one team to keep an eye on as General Manager Patrik Allvin and President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford have made veteran players and pending unrestricted free agents on their roster available for trade in an effort to get younger.
"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.
There's no question that in return for their pending UFAs, Vancouver will be seeking players in their early-20s who are either already in the National Hockey League or on the cusp of being in the league and will be able to fit into their future core of Braeden Cootes, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Tom Willander, among others.
Former top-five pick & British Columbia native suggested as trade target for Vancouver Canucks
On Tuesday's edition of Sekeres & Price, Matt Sekeres and Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects discussed the possibility of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson being a trade target for Patrik Allvin as the Vancouver Canucks continue their search for a second line centerman, which has been ongoing since they dealt J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers in late January.
Robinson believes that while Kent Johnson could be a good number two centerman, whether it's in Columbus, Vancouver or elsewhere in the NHL, if he were to be acquired by the Canucks, he isn't sure it would make sense to have two guys - Johnson & Elias Pettersson - who aren't physical and get into the dirty areas, which is what Adam Foote needs out of his top two centermen.
"And that's literally been the question around KJ since playing at Michigan. Like where, you know, he was like a top five pick and had supreme hands and so slippery and smooth. But it's like, every time I watch him, like is this guy really going to play the middle of the ice? He has the playmaking, he has the handles for it, but he doesn't really have that grit and that drive that you will often need, even for a playmaking center. You often have to get into it a little bit." Robinson said.
He added, "I don't think he would be a long-term solution as a number one center, maybe a good number two center behind someone. But is Elias Pettersson the guy you want those two stacked down the middle? You wouldn't have much meat there."
He added, "I don't think he would be a long-term solution as a number one center, maybe a good number two center behind someone. But is Elias Pettersson the guy you want those two stacked down the middle? You wouldn't have much meat there."
The other issue hindering Kent Johnson as being a legit option as a number two centerman in Vancouver is that he's played almost exclusively on the wing this season in Columbus, with just nine faceoffs taken since the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Johnson, 23, has one year left on his contract beyond this season with a cap hit of $1.8 million USD and after a 24-goal campaign in 2024-25, has just two goals in 25 games for the Blue Jackets.
While he might not be an ideal target for Patrik Allvin, Kent Johnson is definitely in need of a fresh start elsewhere and it could come in Vancouver in a middle-six role, with the cost to acquire him probably not very high at the moment.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 3 | 1030 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks set their sites on a new trade target on the Columbus Blue Jackets Do you think the Vancouver Canucks should try to acquire Kent Johnson from the Columbus Blue Jackets? | ||
| Yes | 502 | 48.7 % |
| No | 528 | 51.3 % |
| List of polls | ||