[Proposal] VAN-NSH on Trade Deadline Day

[KicKassian]

The Canucks are stuck in the mode of trying to retool for the future while also trying to compete and become a legitimate contender in the now. There is a call to acquire a younger non rental player who can come in and contribute in a top six role now, while the team also becomes slightly younger to make an easier transition in the future in the hopes of avoiding a lengthy rebuilding period. Vancouver's current weaknesses are goal production as well as general forward depth (mostly due to injuries). Positions of strenght to be dealt from is the deep crop of defensemen (with arguably six top 4 defensemen as well as Frank Corrado waiting in the wings), the Canucks can also stake a claim to having a large amount of valuable forward prospects.

Looking at Nashville, a team who is right in the thick of a full scale rebuild, they have the makings of a great blueline anchored by Shea Weber and Seth Jones however asides from Forsberg, the franchise is seriously lacking in quality prospects. Obviously the team is not in any shaoe to compete even for a playoff spot with Rinne gone long term, so a high draft pick will be in their future.

I tried to think of a trade that would help both teams in their respective situations. It would have to be done at the trade dealine (cap restrictions) So here it is:

To NSH: Brendan Gaunce, Chris Tanev, David Booth, and VAN 2014 3rd rounder

To VAN: Patric Hornqvist, Paul Gaustad, and NSH 2014 4th rounder

Why Nashville does this:

1)Nashville is in a position where it is reasonable to take on David Booth. First off Booth's large cap hit will not be a problem in Nashville as both Gaustads and Hornqvists hefty Contracts are sent in return and the Preds have a large amount of cap space regardless. Secondly David Booth will be given a primary role in the Predators lineup since they are under no pressure to perform (It being a rebuilding season) Lastly Booth is relatively young and could become a better player with a change of scenery, and if it doesn't work out then at least the term is shorter than Hornqvist's contract and they can get out of it sooner.

2)Nashville is given a great forward prospect in Brendan Gaunce, a player whose progress and potential should be higher with the recent trade to Erie. Gaunce will solidify their center position in the future as a No.2 behind Forsberg.

3)Nashville is given a very young and inexpensive defensemen in Chris Tanev. Tanev's game is structured on being very positionally sound, so he should fit in perfectly under a Barry Trotz system. Tanev would also round out the top 4 of the Preds currently.

4)Not only does Nashville move up in the draft by picking up the 3rd rounder in exchange for the 4th, but also with the additions of Tanev and Gaunce the Preds gain two players who should be key parts in the rebuild.

Why Vancouver does this:

1)Vancouver has spent years searching for a top six forward to compliment the Sedins and Hornqvist could be just that player. Hornqvist who is 26 and signed for four more years is 5'11 190 lbs. Hornqvist is a really gritty player who goes to the dirty areas to generate offense and knows where to be to score goals. He is also good defensively. His career high in goals is 31 and he has also scored 21 or more goals in two additional seasons. These goal totals show how he can produce goals even on a team that is not focused on offense (Imagine him with the Sedins). Hornqvists point totals in the last two seasons have been greatly affected by just how bad Nashville is (He's currently on the top line with Viktor Stalberg and Mike Fisher), so he can be seen at the moment as being as expensive to acquire as he would have been in previous years. He can transition smoothly to a Torts regime after being under Trotz. Can also mentor Kassian.

2)Vancouver can afford to give up Gance because of the depth at center they have as an organization. Gaunce is sitting behind Henrik, Kesler, Horvat, and with the emergance of Cassels in the system Gaunce has become a piece that Vancouver can afford to move to become a better team in the now.

3)Tanev is a piece that currently holds alot of value and is one of the only moveable pieces on the blueline with all of the NTC's Vancouver's defenders currently have. By moving tanev for a valuable piece Vancouver also opens up room to develop Frank Corrado.

4)Paul Gaustad is a 6'5 behemoth who is great in the dressing room and in the faceoff dot. Gaustad has been playing on the wing this season for the Preds so he could fit into the 4th line winger spot. Gaustad adds much needed size and depth to tackle the California teams in a playoff series.

5)While these moves push the Canucks right against the cap they will have room to wiggle with the next years large increase.

Canucks Lineup(When Healthy):

D.Sedin/H.Sedin/Hornqvist

Burrows/Kesler/Santorelli

Higgins/Schroeder/Hansen

Gaustad/Richardson/Kassian

Weise/Sestito

Hamhuis/Bieksa

Edler/Garrison

Stanton/Corrado

Alberts

Luongo/

Lack

Out: David Booth, Chris Tanev

In: Patric Hornvist, Paul Gaustad, Frank Corrado

Notes:

-The trade would give the Canucks 6 possible centers at any time giving the team versatility in draws in any zone.

-Hornqvist could improve the power play by being the net prescence while kesler moves to the point.

Thanks For Reading please comment, suggest anything, and point out any errors.

[Herberts Vasiljevs]

I don't think acquiring Hornqvist would be worth trading Tanev for, although he's a very intriguing player that would look fantastic in out top-6.

Besides, I don't think Nashville would be willing to give up Hornqvist anytime soon. He really compliments Nashville's system and he's locked up for a long time. I believe he's there to stay.

[Piggy Bank]

No

[Watermelons]

Well-thought out and seemingly reasonable proposal.

I don't really like the idea of losing Tanev, but I do like the look of that lineup

[TheRussianRocket.]

Well-thought out and seemingly reasonable proposal.

I don't really like the idea of losing Tanev, but I do like the look of that lineup

Yep, this about sums it up for me too. Solid proposal OP, I'd definitely do it if Tanev could manage to stay out of it.

[VANCITYCANUCKS_604]

I like the idea of acquring Hornqvist as he'd be pretty awesome to go with the Sedins. However, I'm against the idea of acquiring Gaustad, especially if he's making 3.25mill a year playing on our 4th line. I'm not sure if he's good enough to be our 3rd line centre either. I'd rather try to get Legwand as our 3rd line centre but we'd have to add more and maybe too expensive to re-sign as well.

But if we could make it work...

Sedin-Sedin-Hornqvist

Higgins-Kesler-Santo

Burrows-Legwand-Hansen

Sestito-Richardson-Weise/Kassian

Hamhuis-Bieksa

Edler-Garrison

Stanton-Corrado

Luu-Lack

[Alex Burrows 14]

How about Gaunce, Booth and a 3rd for Hornqvist

[Cucumber]

How about Gaunce, Booth and a 3rd for Hornqvist

They say no

And gaunce will be a great 3rd c one day

[Warhippy]

I think it's a shade of an overpayment. And I have NO doubts that Poille says no chance to giving up even a fraction of his mediocre offense for yet more defense and a promise of potential offense in yet another prospect

[Angry Goose]

One player out of NSH that would be a good depth addition is Colin Wilson.

Assuming Santo is re-signed Canucks would have excellent C depth with Sedin, Kesler, Santo, Richardson, Wilson, Schroeder.

Plus it would lessen the expectation Horvat or Guance have to make the jump next year, and spend a year developing with 20+ minutes and situations experience in the AHL.

Problem is getting him. NSH has good C's in Forsberg, Fisher, Cullen, and Gaustad. Young guys like Scissons coming up too. Any NSH fans here?

[TspecPA]

Over all I like the proposal. I would rather trade Schroeder before Gaunce. I think he will do well here and his size is a plus when playing our tough Cali rivals.

[DownUndaCanuck]

Tanev is a top-4 if not top pairing defenceman right now, Gaunce is a future middle-6 center and Booth is a middle-6 powerforward.

Hornqvist may be a top line scorer on a poor team but he's a 2nd liner at best on most good teams.

Gaustad's career is pretty much over - he's a 4th line center at best.

You could have simplified this trade by simply throwing Corrado, Booth and a 2nd or 3rd rounder for Hornqvist. The Predators get a replacement forward in Booth who plays a similar gritty style to the Preds, they get a young future top defenceman who can be groomed by Weber and play with Jones in Corrado, and a pick in case they're still not satisfied. As for the Canucks, they basically trade away 1 roster player and get another while sacrificing defensive youth, which they can afford seeing as their top-4 Dmen are locked up long term, Tanev is going to be a stud and Stanton is proving he can fill a void nicely too. Corrado is expendable.

Sedin - Sedin - Hornqvist

Santorelli - Kesler - Higgins

Burrows - Richardson - Hansen

Weise - Dalpe - Sestito

[Azzy Mahmood]

Gaustad has been playing well the last few games. He's a face-off expert, big, just what we need for gruelling series against the Sharks, Bruins, Hawks, whoever. I'd love him at 3LC with Richardson on 4. That's great depth.