The Vancouver Canucks are working the phones trying to trade defenceman Vincent Desharnais, and they have a specific return in mind.
After reports surfaced last week that the Canucks were exploring the trade market for Desharnais, speculation on a potential return has been a hot topic among the fanbase. Luckily, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman appears to be plugged into the situation as he provided an update on Desharnais’ status in the latest edition of Saturday Headlines.
Friedman reported that Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin is not targeting active players or prospects in a potential Desharnais deal, though it may not be that easy.
“I did hear a little bit the Canucks prefer draft picks in return because they wanted some roster and cap flexibility,” Friedman said. “The Canucks, I have now heard, are willing to consider all options in order to help Desharnais a fresh start.”
The latest edition of Saturday Headlines with @FriedgeHNIC 📰 pic.twitter.com/Ju4QpmKH6C
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 15, 2024
It has not been the type of season that the Canucks and Desharnais had hoped for after the brooding defender signed a two-year deal with the club over the summer. The Quebecois defenceman was coming off a lengthy run to the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers last season, and the hope was that he could steady Vancouver’s bottom-six defence corp.
Instead, Desharnais has only appeared in 17 games this season and is having trouble cracking the lineup regularly. It’s a stark departure from his role in Edmonton, where he could carve out a consistent spot on the team’s third pairing and even pinch-hit on the second pairing during that long playoff run.
Giving Desharnais a $4 million deal over two years was a risky bet to start with by the Canucks, and moving his entire cap hit off the books will be a challenge.
If Vancouver wants the situation resolved before the upcoming holiday break, they must act fast, as the NHL will instill its annual roster freeze on Friday.