The Vancouver Canucks began a six game roadie on Tuesday with two losses.
The Canucks lost 4-2 to Nashville.
One of their top six left wingers will be out of the lineup until further notice.
Sven Baertschi for the foreseeable future.
Baertschi was removed from Tuesday night’s game with the Predators in the first period after a heavy crash with tough guy Cody McLeod.
Canucks have identified Baertschi's injury as a concussion,
McLeod will not face any supplemental discipline from the NHL for the hit on Baertschi.
Canucks bench boss Willie Desjardins was not happy about the hit on Baertchi.
The Canucks have now lost four games in a row and are seven points out of the final Wedtern wildcard berth.
Tuesday night was the first game of a six-game road trip, which will likely make or break the Canucks’ playoff chances. They visit Columbus, Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis in the next week.
Baertschi has 13 goals and 27 points in 50 games this season.
Baertschi was the 13th overall pick of the Calgary Flames at the 2011 NHL Draft.
Baertschi was acquired in a trade by Vancouver at the 2015 NHL trade deadline in exchange for a second round pick.
If he so chooses, and I believe he will have to our if necessity, Canucks GM Jim Benning will turn to the trade market to find a replacement for Baertschi, who is earning $1.85 million this and next season. Before the Baertschi injury occurred, Benning had been doing his scouting diligence as he has been looking to add a veteran top six power forward who can infuse scoring, speed and physicality to the Canucks attack. Even with Baertschi healthy, the Canucks have a tough time competing for 60 minutes against division foes Anaheim, San Jose, Edmonton, LA and Calgary.
Remember how the Evander Kane for Ben Hutton trade rumors died after U.S. Thanksgiving?
That's when after five months of trade buzz between the Sabres and Canucks, out of the blue Benning re-signed Hutton to a two year, $5.6M ($2.8M AAV) contract extension. Hutton is a top for D and PP QB who plays 20+ minutes TOI per game. Hutton has 4G, 8A this season. He plays against the left D against the other team's top line. That Banning locked up a budding star in Hutton for a pennies on the dollar bridge contract which is great value l.
Kane was injured in the season opener in opening October 8 when he busted four ribs in a violent collision with the end wall against Montreal. Kane missed 11 games due to his serious injury.
At that time, Kane's trade value was low because of his injury.
However, since December 3, Kane is the hottest scorer in the NHL with 16 goals in his last 30 games played. Kane scored twice, including the OT G Dub against San Jose. Kane has scored 14 even strength goals this season along with 2 PPG. Kane has landed 148 shots on enemy goalies and has a 10.8% shooting percentage to go with his 76 PIMs.
Well, you can consider said trade talks back on.
Hutton returned to the starting lineup Tuesday night in Nashville after missing 11 games with a hairline fracture in his finger.
At what price can Benning green light a deal for Kane?
It won't be a one for one proposition.
Tim Murray would likely want Hutton and Jake Virtanen, the sixth overall pick from the 2014 NHL Draft. Virtanen has been buried in AHL Utica this season after being sent down after 10 games (0G,0A) from Vancouver. In 34 games in Utica this season, Virtanen has scored 5 goals and 4 assists. This season, the forecast looked promising for Virtanen who in 55 games in Vancouver last season scored 7 goals and 6 assists while earning 45 PIMs. Virtanen'a struggles are well chronicled. Was he forced to play in the NHL too soon? Expectations were not set properly on Virtanen who was played in the NHL as a 19 year old rookie. When he struggled at the beginning of his sophomore season he questioned his head coach's usage of him. He was banished to the minors and hasn't been heard from since. Perhaps Virtanan and the team would benefit from a separation.
Jim Benning has not declared yet whether he will be a seller or a buyer at the March 1 NHL trade deadline. My gut tells me he isn't ready to sell off rental pieces Alex Burrows and Ryan Miller yet. I think Benning thinks his team can not only earn a playoff berth but make some noise in the playoffs. For these reasons, I see Benning going all in on Kane. Adding a 25 year old sniper that opponents fear and loathe is something the Canucks must do if they are to be takin seriously in the West. Kane is a Vancouver kid who starred for the Vancouver Giants. Playing in front of family and friends may well take Kane's game to the next level.
Why would Tim Murray trade Kane now when he is on fire?
Because it's not a foregone conclusion that the Sabres will play .700 hockey in their final 39 games to grab a wild card berth. That's a lot to ask of a .500 team. Anything is possible in the Leastern Conference where eight teams are fighting tooth and nail for the same piece of the playoff pie. Murray has shown a propensity to trade away his pending UFAs at the trade deadline for building blocks for the future. See Jamie McGinn last season. If his team is in dire straits, Murray will not hesitate to trade Brian Gionta, Dmitry Kulikov, Justin Falk, Taylor Fedun and Cody Franson. He can always te-sign one of the above on July 1. Another reason is that Murray has youngsters in the pipeline in Justin Bailey, Alex Nylander and Nick Baptiste who deserve a shot to play meaningful minutes to be evaluated this season.
Why, or better yet, how would Murray be able to extend Kane to a long term deal in the $6M AAV range for 6-7 years when maturing forwards Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Marcus Foligno and Zemgus Girgensons will be looking for similar or greater or similar dollars? Kyle Okposo is $6M AAV for 7 seasons. Ryan O'Reilly is a $7.5M AAV for 7 seasons. Murray cannot pay Eichel and Reinhart the raises that they want to achieve if Kane is in the fold.
The NHL salary cap is expected to decrease from this season to next.
The Canucks continue to scout the Sabres, as are several other NHL teams whom are looking for a power forward of Evander Kane's echelon.
Trust me when I tell you Murray's phone I has been pulsating at a regular rate for the past few months regarding Evander Kane's availability at the trade deadline. Anaheim, Los Angeles, Washington, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Calgary and Philadelphia have been scouting Kane with regularity.
The Ducks are in Buffalo to play the Sabres in Thursday night. The Canucks better make a move in Kane before the Anaheim or another team does. Vancouver will be in Buffalo in Sunday.
Carpe diem, Benning.