Former first round pick named as strong option for Vancouver Canucks' blue line moving forward
Photo credit: Terrence Lee - Imagn Images
A former first round pick has been named as a potential option for the Vancouver Canucks' blue line and could be a reclamation project for Patrik Allvin and Co.
Prospects and draft picks are what the Vancouver Canucks are targeting ahead of the trade deadline in early March and the organization fully commits to undergoing a rebuild, something the fan base has been wanting for years.
"We are transitioning into a rebuild here, acquiring younger players through the draft. Obviously, the draft is really important for us. Since Jim and I got [here] three years ago, we've definitely always emphasized on getting younger." GM Patrik Allvin said recently.
Since declaring their plans to rebuild back in January, the Vancouver Canucks have been linked to a number of players and prospects around the league and with the club intending on selling off their pending UFAs and some veterans, Allvin should have no issue landing someone who will play a big role for them in the near future.
Former first round pick named as option for Vancouver Canucks' blue line
Early last week, Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance of The Athletic examined some potential reclamation projects for the Vancouver Canucks to consider and among them was Ville Heinola, a former first rounder from the Winnipeg Jets.
Heinola, who turns 25 on March 2nd and could potentially become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has had a tough time trying to break into the National Hockey League with the Winnipeg Jets, with injuries at times holding him back and it's clear that he would benefit from a change of scenery.
"Heinola is a slick puck handler with offensive upside. He’s not the biggest defender (listed at 6 feet, 181 pounds), and his skating is only average, but he showed some promise in his 53 career NHL games. Heinola will become a Group VI unrestricted free agent in the summer. It could be worth signing him to a low-cost one-year deal, with the idea that he could compete for a job as a No. 7/8 defender (to perhaps replace PO Joseph’s role) in training camp next fall." Dayal and Drance said.
The Honkajoki, Finland has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose, putting up 19 points (two goals, 17 assists), 22 penalty minutes and is a minus-four in 43 games.
With Derek Forbort and Pierre-Olivier Joseph's contracts coming off the books on July 1st and some uncertainty as to whether or not Tyler Myers could be traded, there would be an opportunity for Ville Heinola to get NHL minutes in Vancouver and he likely wouldn't cost the Canucks a lot to acquire him.
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