Biggest Buyers/Sellers on Trade Deadline

[CALGARY!]

With trade deadline next week, Im just curious as to who everyone here thinks will be the biggest sellers and the biggest buyers at the deadline, based on rumours, standings, this years deep draft etc.

For me, I think the biggest buyers will be, Vancouver, Anaheim and Nashville.

Vancouver- Is sitting comfortably in second spot in the Pacific division, which would give them home ice advantage in the first round. More home games=more revenue. They have also, recently run into big time injuries on D and possibly in goal, as Im sure everyone knows. Im thinking, given the current standings and the liklihood of earning a comfortable playoff spot, that ownership will go to Benning and tell him to buy/rent what he needs to keep this team cruising and possibly win a round or 2 in the playoffs. I can see Vancouver spending on any available D, and possibly a goalie, as Lack proved last season that given a majority workload downt the stretch was a bit much for him.

Anaheim- has a weak D-core to begin with, and are often injured, as well they lack some bottom 6 depth that they would need to even have a chance at competing with the Kings in a playoff series. I can see them targetting any available Dmen and bottom 6 forwards.

Nashville has been this seasons surprise, and despite some very impressive numbers from their forward group, I would think, come playoff time, they will want to bolster their team at all forward positions, considering their road to the cup will lead through either Chicago, St.Louis or both, both teams are heavilly stacked on high end D, and Chicago is stacked top to bottom in all positions(except goal). I think Nashville targets any and all decent veteran forwards available.

Pittsburgh as a side note has always tried to load up at deadline the last couple years, Id be curious to see if they go that route again.

The biggest sellers I would think would be, Toronto, Edmonton, Buffalo(If they have anyone left to sell) and Arizona.

Toronto has proclaimed that they intend to rebuild and unload their big name contracts, I would imagine both Phaneuf and Kessel have more then a few teams interested as both could be a considerable boost to the right team.

Edmonton is rebuilding the rebuild of their rebuild. I think they will part with one of their recent 1st rounders(Hall/Yakupov are most likely I think) and will be seeking top level prospects and 1st rounder picks, as they can't pick beyond the first round for some reason.

Buffalo isnt even trying to hide the fact that they are tanking, look for them to be knocking on everyones door with a sales pitch on just about every roster player they have.

Arizona has stated that they are willing to part with most of their players for the right price, and, alot of their players would be great additions to some of the contending teams.

Side note, for my Flames I don't see too much movement. Im not sure if they can hold onto a playoff spot or not, its gonna be tough with LA and Minny surging now, Colorado is finally finding a gear. LIke Ive said all season, if they make the playoffs thats fantastic, but this season has already exceded all expectations and to see how well the youth are developing, both the ones in the NHL and the ones in the minors/ juniors, we have nothing but good times to look forward too. I can see maybe a few sells in Calgary, Glencross seems imminent, Stajan may or may not be up, basically I can see a couple of the older guys get shipped out for later picks.

What does everyone else here think?

[Fateless]

I don't really see why you think we'll be big buyers.

We already have a log jam of a roster when some of our players come back healthy. The only thing this team needs is a #1 defenceman and a top six winger. Both of those come at a premium at the deadline and usually command picks/prospects that Benning has already stated he refuses to trade.

I suspect we'll be a seller more than a buyer and dump a couple veteran contracts in exchange for picks in this years draft. If the Canucks "buy" anything, it will likely be depth or young players coming in, I just don't see Benning going after any big names.

[elvis15]

Yup, we'll be closer to sellers than buyers. I guess we'll be buying top picks in this draft though, and looking for prospects as well.

Pittsburgh has already made a number of moves so I don't think they'll bring too much in, if anything. They're too close to the cap (actually over and using LTI) to do much unless they ship out salary.

Anaheim and Nashville will likely get something though, and Toronto and Arizona will look to sell. I'm not sure who else we'll see selling off in any significant way though, partly because of the cap restraints both this year and likely next, but also because some big moves have already been made.

[Ronalds.Kenins41]

I don't see us being buyers not because we should tank but cause benning said he won't sacrifice the future unless its a clendenning type deal.

[Piggy Bank]

I expect Buffalo to make moves. None from Edmonton though.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Benning's said he thinks players returning from injury is the equivalent of getting a guy in a deadline trade, and he's correct.

Realistically, how much should we spend on a player like Bonino, Richardson, Edler, Markstrom or Bieksa when we already have those guys.

If not selling some UFA's who are on the way out anyway, the Canucks should do nothing this deadline.

[Booth's Snapback]

We'll be buyers only if it makes sense. You won't see Benning take the Gillis approach (a la Derek Roy or Sammy Pahlsson) because Benning is aware that we're still not contenders. Bringing in rental players was something Gillis liked to do a little too much.

Benning will stay the course - as he should. Don't expect any big names coming this way (maybe a role player or two).

For the first time since 2011, I'm very excited about this team.

[JeremyCuddles]

We could use another David Booth.

[RonMexico]

We'll be buyers only if it makes sense. You won't see Benning take the Gillis approach (a la Derek Roy or Sammy Pahlsson) because Benning is aware that we're still not contenders. Bringing in rental players was something Gillis liked to do a little too much.

Benning will stay the course - as he should. Don't expect any big names coming this way (maybe a role player or two).

For the first time since 2011, I'm very excited about this team.

Does something twice and is considered to do it a little too much.

Benning is aware they aren't contenders? Really? This sure goes against the plan of holding the core together a little bit longer to take another shot at the playoffs. How can you say they are not contenders when they are holding down a playoff spot with half a dozen key injuries? Yet two sentences later you are excited about this team?

[oldnews]

We'll be buyers only if it makes sense. You won't see Benning take the Gillis approach (a la Derek Roy or Sammy Pahlsson) because Benning is aware that we're still not contenders. Bringing in rental players was something Gillis liked to do a little too much.

Benning will stay the course - as he should. Don't expect any big names coming this way (maybe a role player or two).

For the first time since 2011, I'm very excited about this team.

I agree with you that Benning won't be going out of his way to add, but disgree with you regarding Gillis and rentals. Most of Gillis' moves were for contract roster players like Ehrhofff, Ballard, Booth, and late season additions like Lapierre, Higgins. Roy and Pahlsson were exceptions - for a team that notably did not like spending on rentals. At the same time, if you look realistically at the prospect pool that Gillis had to draw upon - this is what it looked like after he'd had a year to make additions - and when you look at the guys with NHL potential there, they were almost exclusively added in the early days of Gillis' tenure - Andersson, Connauton, McNally, Tanev, Schroeder. Aside from them, extremely slim pickings - no real NHL ready prospects for depth, and no real assets that could be used to gain much on the trade market.

Defence:

Peter Andersson, Kevin Connauton, Maury Edwards , Taylor Ellington, Brendan Ellis , Taylor Fedun , Sawyer Hannay, Patrick McNally, Kevan Miller , Adam Polasek, Jeremy Price, Yann Sauve, Chris Tanev

Forwards:

Steven Anthony, Kevin Clark , Jack Downing, Matt Fraser, Alex Friesen, Mats Froshaug, James Henry, Tayler Jordan , Taylor Matson, Pierre-Olivier Morin, Prab Rai, Anton Rodin, Stefan Schneider, Jordan Schroeder, Kellan Tochkin, Aaron Volpatti, Scott Zurevinski.

When it came to their years of contending, it was either spend a few futures in the form of picks (and Patrick White) or stay put in a time when they were legitimate SC contenders.

I'm thankful Gillis was as conservative as he was - when you look at what teams did around rentals - the much praised (at the time) moves of the Penguins for example - the price the Canucks paid imo for a couple rentals was relatively very moderate.

[Scorvat]

I don't really see why you think we'll be big buyers.

We already have a log jam of a roster when some of our players come back healthy. The only thing this team needs is a #1 defenceman and a top six winger. Both of those come at a premium at the deadline and usually command picks/prospects that Benning has already stated he refuses to trade.

I suspect we'll be a seller more than a buyer and dump a couple veteran contracts in exchange for picks in this years draft. If the Canucks "buy" anything, it will likely be depth or young players coming in, I just don't see Benning going after any big names.

2nd line C is our most needed position than a top 4 dman

[hatedkid666]

Carolina has a lot of intriguing pending UFAs of their team. As well as the stalls and ward

[apollo]

Yup, we'll be closer to sellers than buyers. I guess we'll be buying top picks in this draft though, and looking for prospects as well.

Pittsburgh has already made a number of moves so I don't think they'll bring too much in, if anything. They're too close to the cap (actually over and using LTI) to do much unless they ship out salary.

Anaheim and Nashville will likely get something though, and Toronto and Arizona will look to sell. I'm not sure who else we'll see selling off in any significant way though, partly because of the cap restraints both this year and likely next, but also because some big moves have already been made.

Why would the second rank team in any division be sellers?

[hellosinki]

At this deadline, I don't think that Benning will make any moves. I think he is content with the team that he has right now and see how they do in the post season (if they make it). During the offseason though, I think Benning will be very busy in trading some extra players that we have now for draft picks. Our Comets are starting to look pretty good.

[CALGARY!]

Why would the second rank team in any division be sellers?

Do we agree on something Apollo? LOL

No in seriousness I think its a compliment to the Canucks that they are in a position to still be buyers for playoff time.

[Spoosh]

Benning has stated that our target is to make the playoffs every year. "When you get in there it's a whole new season and anything can happen"

That means he does feel we can go the distance. And will pull the trigger on a deal if it's in our best interests both short-term and long-term. I.e. someone like Bozak or possibly Skinner if he feels it's a risk worth taking. The only thing he has made clear he won't do is move top prospects or high picks. That doesn't mean he won't possibly go big on deadline day if the deal is worth it.

Personally I'm still hoping we can get both Jeff Skinner & Griffin Reinhart somehow. 99,9% sure that's never gonna happen, but Carolina might be willing to move underperforming Skinner (deal including Matthias ++) and NYI might want extra depth and secondary scoring ie. hometown boy Chris Higgins ++. Here's to dreaming the day away.

[asian player]

Anaheim and Nashville could be huge buyers. I'd expect Montreal and Chicago kick at it as well.

As for sellers, firesale down in Arizona?

[48MPHSlapShot]

Somewhere in between "buyer" and "seller" is where we sit. We'll make a trade if it makes sense, and we'll dump a contract if it makes sense.

It wouldn't surprise me if we dumped a contract (say, Higgins maybe) for a pick or prospect, and moved another piece or a few pieces for a non-rental player.