November 30, 2024 | 9:46pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANUCKS ‘LOOKING’ TO MAKE ADDITION

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin

The Vancouver Canucks have been in the market for a defenceman since the start of the season and the need to bolster their blueline has recently increased with the injury to Filip Hronek.

Hronek is expected to miss an extended period of time, though a timeline has not yet been determined.

Even though they have limited salary cap space to play with, GM Patrik Allvin has been exploring options on defence and the Canucks continue to weigh their options.

During today’s “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman reported the Canucks are indeed “looking” to make a move, but the team isn’t about to rush into a move simply for the sake of making one.

“Vancouver’s down defencemen. They’ve also struggled a bit defensively. They’re out there,” Friedman said. “They have one of the most aggressive front offices in the league. Everybody knows it. Jim Rutherford, Patrik Allvin, they’re not afraid to do anything, but they have made it clear ‘we’re not going to do something just because other people think we're desperate.’”

It’s unclear whom the Canucks may be eyeing, specifically, though the team remains linked to Pittsburgh Penguins blueliner Marcus Pettersson, who is playing on an expiring contract and is expected to be dealt at some point this season prior to the March 7 trade deadline.

Pettersson, 28, is in the final year of a five-year, $20,125,875 contract and owns an eight-team no-trade list this season. His annual cap hit is $4,025,175, which means the Canucks would need the Penguins to retain up to 50 percent of his contract and likely move out a body or two off their roster.

Other defencemen in play across the NHL include Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard Ivan Provorov, Montreal Canadiens duo David Savard and Mike Matheson, Anaheim Ducks veteran Cam Fowler, and Philadelphia Flyers blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen, among others.