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The Vancouver Canucks have three potential trade candidates this offseason that could help spur the team’s rebuild.
The Vancouver Canucks are quietly entering what could be the biggest offseason for the club in quite some time.
The club is clearly rebuilding and could be looking to make a splash to recoup even more pieces. As such, the Canucks could be aggressive in the trade market this summer, particularly leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft.
With that in mind, here’s a look at Vancouver’s top-three trade candidates in the 2026 offseason.
Top 3 Canucks Trade CandidatesNils Hoglander
The Canucks signed Hoglander to a three-year extension last season. The deal came with a $3 million cap hit, which didn’t look too bad after he scored eight goals and 25 points in 72 games this season.
But after injuries and inconsistency, Hoglander could be on the move. His two goals in 32 games make his contract extremely onerous for a rebuilding team. As such, Vancouver could be looking to move the 25-year-old to a team potentially willing to give him a fresh start.
The club shouldn’t expect to get much for the former second-round pick from the 2019 NHL Draft. A good return could be a mid-round pick. Perhaps the Canucks could pry a prospect potentially looking for a fresh start, making the deal a potential high-reward proposition.
Drew O’Connor
Drew O’Connor is actually one of the better forwards on the team this season. The 27-year-old has 17 goals and 29 points in 75 games. His $2.5 million cap hit looks pretty good for a player who could be a 20-goal scorer.
It wouldn’t be surprising to hear chatter about the Canucks getting calls about O’Connor. If they do, the club might be able to land a couple of solid draft picks. Perhaps a first-rounder might be out of the question.
But then again, a team might be desperate enough to pay a higher-than-anticipated price, particularly with the free-agent market being so thin this summer.
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Canucks Starting Goalie Thatcher Demko
Vancouver should be actively looking to see if there is a market for Thatcher Demko. The Canucks could find themselves with a bit of a logjam in the crease with Demko, Kevin Lankinen, and Nikita Tolopilo heading into next season.
That is, of course, assuming that Demko is healthy enough to play.
If Demko is unable to return to the ice, the Canucks might have $8.5 million in LTIR to play with all season. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be insane to believe that Vancouver would be looking to see if there are any takers.
It’s tough to envision a team taking a flyer on Demko with such an immoderate cap hit. Even if the Canucks were to find a taker, the team would have to retain salary. Even a 50% retention might not be enough to get a deal across the line.
Still, a team desperate enough for a starting goaltender might see an opportunity to land one at a cheap price. It won’t be easy to make a deal happen. Demko has a full no-trade clause. That situation means the Canucks are pretty much stuck with him.
But if there’s a team out there willing to give Demko a chance to be a full-time starter, he might be willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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