exploring alternatives

This deal doesn't do much for the Canucks. Jones is an average prospect who likely to make the NHL in a 3rd or 4th pairing d-man. Exactly what Wolanin currently is. That means Vancouver would be trading Beauvillier with over $2M retention for a 2nd round pick. You'll need to add a significant prospect for this. Think Brennan Othmann.

Zac Jones is 22 and thriving in the AHL. He's a puck moving defenseman with top 4 potential. Brennan Othmann is one of the best prospects outside of the NHL and is projected as a top 6 scoring winger, should make the team next year, and the Rangers have already said they're not parting with him. Not just because he's a top prospect, but because he's got cost-control, and that's something the Rangers need with the upcoming cap crunch. Wolanin is not even a prospect, he's a fringe NHLer who I only put there because the Rangers would need some defensive depth before the playoffs.

Look at Wolanin's stats, when he was Jones' age, he too was "thriving in the AHL", in fact his first three partial years in the NHL were more impressive than Jones. Jones isn't threatening to be a top 4 d-man, no way...not even on Arizona after Chychrun is traded, he's undersized (under 6', under 180 lbs) and isn't talented enough to make up for that. Beauvillier is a quality proven middle six NHL forward with 467 games of experience and is only 25 years old. Asking for $2.075M retention (for this year and next) on him will cost more than a 2nd rounder which is likely to be close the the 60th overall pick. I think it would take the Rangers (or Dallas') 1st rounder for that at a minimum.