After Andrey Pedan cleared waivers this morning, I figured the situation on the blue line was set. But out of the blue, the Canucks have announced the acquisition of defenseman Derrick Pouliot from the Pittsburgh Penguins, in exchange for Pedan and a fourth-round draft pick.
Originally drafted eighth overall back in 2012, Pouliot's now 23 years old and has failed to break through to become a full-time NHL player. Still waiver exempt last season, he spent 46 games in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and suited up 11 times for the Penguins. He also missed 21 games with a lower-body injury he suffered in his first game of the season, with the Penguins in late October.
Pouliot was part of the playoff run for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, then joined the Penguins during their second-round series against Washington, but did not dress for any games. He has a Stanley Cup ring from 2016, though, when he appeared in two playoff games.
I imagine the catalyst for this trade is Travis Green's pre-existing relationship with Pouliot. Green coached him in junior with the Portland Winterhawks, including their WHL Championship year in 2012-13. Pouliot was named the CHL defenseman of the year in 2013-14.
Green has also had a chance to keep an eye on him over the past few years, Playing primarily in the AHL, Pouliot would have lined up frequently against Green's Utica Comets.
I've been talking for the last few days about how Green was scratching Pedan from his Utica lineup last spring. Here in Vancouver, it's easy for us to think we want to see what Pedan is all about. Green has been watching him for the last three years and had apparently made up his mind that he didn't see him as an NHL player.
For the Penguins, the move saves them from the risk of losing Pouliot for nothing by putting him on waivers to set their roster today. Pedan's already through, so he can be assigned directly to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Canucks' solution to Pouliot's waiver dilemma? Keep him with the big club.
Pouliot's a left-shot defenseman who's listed at 6'0" and 208 pounds. His strengths are said to be his skating and his puck-moving skills. The knocks on him are a lack of intensity and some poor decision-making with the puck.
Apparently Green thinks he can remedy those qualities. It is worth noting that Pouliot's other head coach from Portland, Mike Johnston, was not able to develop him to his full potential during their time together with the Penguins.
Pouliot's now 23, a member of that messy 2012 draft class that saw Nail Yakupov and Griffin Reinhart drafted above him in the top 10. He's currently on a one-year contract that pays him $800,000 and will be eligible for arbitration at the end of the season.
A fresh start and a familiar coach probably gives Pouliot the best possible chance to salvage his career.
Here's a positive lens through which we can view this trade—right now, it bears a strong resemblance to what's regarded as the best deal in Canucks franchise history. Drafted 16th overall in 1991, Markus Naslund was seen as a first-round bomb when he was dealt from Pittsburgh to Vancouver at the 1996 trade deadline—just a few months before his 23rd birthday.
Of course, Naslund was a forward and Pouliot's a defenseman. Now it's a question of how things will play out on the ice.
Next question—is Pouliot going to push for a top-six spot? If so, does that mean lefty Ben Hutton is destined for the press box on opening night?
Let's keep the poll question dead simple:
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In other blue line news, it sounds like Olli Juolevi's situation with TPS Turku is set for the year.
In Penticton, I spoke briefly with Juolevi about working with Canucks legend Sami Salo, who signed on as an assistant coach with Turku this summer. Legndary Finn Saku Koivu, also a Turku native, also joined the team's front office this summer, as the new director of player development.
On the ice today, Henrik Sedin is missing for a second straight practice session:
Darren Archibald, Brock Boeser and Jake Virtanen are all still here.
Even with these latest moves, it's still unclear how these opening-night roster moves will shake down. If Wiercioch does get sent to Utica, I think he needs time to clear waivers.
If the team needs to make space, it can assign Boeser and/or Virtanen without worrying about waivers—even temporarily. I'm still thinking that Archibald can stay here in Vancouver without having a contract as long as the Comets are amenable. PTO players do that—Brandon Prust practiced with Toronto for months last year.
After surprising us with today's trade, I wonder if the Canucks have more unexpected moves up their sleeves as they prepare for opening night?
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