Team: 2022-23 Vancouver Canucks

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 2, 2022

Published: Feb. 4, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I think a lot of the rumours surrounding the Canucks aren't that substantive and aren't anything more than other teams trying to acquire players they otherwise wouldn't be able to since we have a fresh new GM. Specifically, I think speculation around Garland and Boeser is driven more by other teams trying to acquire them from a new GM rather than the Canucks being interested in moving them.

However, Miller has had a significant amount of interest and rumours of him potentially being moved have persisted the longest. I think there are 4 pieces of information that make Miller trade talks more grounded than others:

1) Vancouver's management has expressed interest in freeing up cap room
2) Miller rumours started the earliest and have lasted the longest
3) Early sentiment is that Miller may prefer signing in the US after his contract
4) Miller has a lot of value

I think this makes the most sense a re-tooling move. But we shouldn't go overboard with it; make one strong move and then commit to building back up immediately. So if we trade Miller, then keep Garland, Boeser, etc. and look to improve next year with a full year under Boudreau.

Offseason would be pretty quiet. Bring back Motte as a heart and soul guy who can hold down the 4th line. Bring in Czarnik or any other right handed center for cheap to take up the 4th line center spot. Johansson comes in due to his familiarity with Boudreau from WSH and plays an important role on the team. Promote Rathbone for the year and see what he can do given that he is the type of defenseman that Boudreau wants more of. Promote Martin as a cheap backup behind our superstar. Sign Kempny or any other depth LHD. Other players that could earn a spot are Lapierre, Lockwood, Burroughs or Woo.