Vancouver Canucks expected to trade former first round pick prior to the deadline in March

Vancouver Canucks expected to trade former first round pick prior to the deadline in March

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Photo credit: Bob Frid – Imagn Images.

The Vancouver Canucks are expected to part ways with a former first rounder prior to the deadline in March as the partnership between the two sides hasn’t worked.

“”But prior to this, we already made the decision that we were going to go with younger players. Over the past few years, our staff has done a good job and we have a number of good young players, whether they’re in our lineup now or close to getting in our lineup. And those players are going to get a chance to play. Based on the circumstances with this team, this is the year to do it. The fact of the matter is we’re in a rebuild.” Jim Rutherford said in a recent interview about the Vancouver Canucks’ direction.

While the goal, ideally, amid this rebuild is to get younger and stock up on draft picks, it looks like one player under the age of 25 could find his way out of Vancouver in the coming weeks.

Vancouver Canucks expected to trade former first round pick before the deadline

In his recent trade board for Daily Faceoff, Matt Larkin mentioned forward Lukas Reichel, who is currently with the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks, as an obvious trade candidate ahead of the deadline.

“That was quick. The Canucks acquired Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks in October, and the Canucks made him available for a trade by November. He’s running out of chances to translate his speed and skill into NHL production. Prospects of this ilk are common: your skill set only works on a scoring line, and if there are no opportunities there, your skill set doesn’t work on a depth line. It’s difficult for players like that to find homes at the NHL level. He passed through waivers unclaimed in December, which gives you a sense of how he’s valued around the league at the moment.” Larkin said.

Reichel has registered just one assist in 14 games with the big club and being placed on waivers by the Vancouver Canucks and subsquently assigned to the American Hockey League, has put up six points (two goals, four assists) in 16 games with Abbotsford.

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Vancouver Canucks expected to trade former first round pick prior to the deadline in March

Will the Vancouver Canucks trade Lukas Reichel?