Vancouver Canucks: Should They Pull a Blockbuster Deal This Offseason?

The Canucks have been relatively quiet this offseason, not luring any top free agents and instead trying to retain current players.

They were able to re-sign three of their four defencemen: Kevin Bieksa (five years, $23 million), Sami Salo (one year, $2 million) and Andrew Alberts (two years, $2.45 million). The Canucks lost out on Christian Ehrhoff, who was traded to the New York Islanders for a fourth-round pick, then later traded again to the Buffalo Sabres for a fourth-round pick. Buffalo finally signed him to a 10-year, $40 million deal.

Up front, the Canucks were able to re-sign RFA Max Lapierre to a two-year deal worth $2 million and Chris Higgins to a two-year deal worth $3.8 million.

When the Canucks dipped into the free agent pool, the deals were minor and added depth outside of the gamble on oft-injured Marco Sturm, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal.

Vancouver added depth in the likes of Andrew Ebbett (one-year, $525,000) and Mark Mancari (one-year, $525,000) to one-way contracts. As well as signing pest Steve Pinizzotto to a one-year, two-way deal ($600,000/$275,000).

On defence, the Canucks signed Alexander Sulzer to a two-way one-year deal ($700,000/$105,000) who the Canucks say have hopes on him making the roster out of training camp.

In goal, Vancouver signed Matt Climie to a one-year, two-way deal ($525,000/$105,000), where he will most likely back up blue chip prospect Eddie Lack in Chicago of the AHL.

With all of these depth signings and making sure there are backup plans as well, the Canucks need a top-six forward to play alongside Ryan Kesler. It would seem Vancouver is setting itself up for a trade this offseason to bolster its lineup.

Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis said the free agent market was thin and teams were spending too much on players with the need to reach the cap floor. Gillis didn't want to overpay for a player that he felt was not worth it. He is looking toward the trade market as the best way to find the piece(s) he needs to do this.

"We still have a lot of options ahead of us," Gillis told The Province. "There's going to be a secondary market and there's going to be a trade market that's emerging. It's hard to say, but some of these (free agent) contracts in a couple of years won't look as good as they do today. When you start to see players making twice as much as Alex Burrows ($2 million) on four, five and six-year deals who never scored 20 goals, it becomes a little challenging to be in that game."

Before July 1st, there was rampant Internet speculation of the Canucks and Devils working on a trade that would send star Zach Parise to Vancouver. This could not happen as the Devils filed for salary arbitration which prevents teams from trading those such players.

This though does not prevent a trade after the hearing. With cap restraints and Parise due for a large pay increase, the Devils would be better off trading him for players to replenish their prospect pool.

According to The Newark Star-Ledger, the Devils filed for salary arbitration, with the hearing set for August 3. That means other teams cannot submit an offer sheet. Once the arbitration hearing is done, the Devils could hypothetically sign Parise for one year to the allotted amount awarded and then trade him.

This brings the Canucks back into discussion about a possible trade. Although Parise has said that he wants to stay with the Devils long term, he is upset with the never-ending number of coaches behind the bench for the Devils. Plus, the Canucks need a top-six forward which Parise brings.

Of course it isn't that simple, but when digging deeper there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The Canucks have a top prospect in Cody Hodgson that has surpassed the playing field in the AHL, but hasn't had a fair shot at playing his natural position in the NHL with Vancouver. With the Canucks he played third/fourth line centre and some wing. Hodgson is a natural top-two centre with strong playmaking ability. He is blocked in Vancouver by Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler. In New Jersey, he would be able to play as a second-line centre maximizing his potential and giving the Devils a centre they have been needing.

The Devils need to look to the future in goal after multiple Vezina and Stanley Cup-winning goalie Martin Brodeur is most likely set to retire as he is in his last year of his contract and turns 40 in May of next year. With the Canucks having Roberto Luongo locked up for the next 11 seasons and the emergence of Cory Schneider as a bona fide starter, it seems like a perfect match.

Add in a first-round draft pick and a trade of Parise to the Canucks for Hodgson, Schneider and a first-round pick is plausible.

It could go even further if current back-up and former Canucks goalie Johan Hedberg agrees to waive his no-trade clause to come back to Vancouver for a year.

A trade of Keith Ballard, Hodgson, Schneider and a first-round pick to the Devils for Parise, Hedberg and a second-round pick could work as well.

Or even further, a trade of Ballard, Hodgson, Schneider, Mikael Samuelsson and a first-round pick to the Devils for Parise, David Clarkson, Hedberg and a third-round pick.

Ballard relieves cap space for the Canucks and gives the Devils a top-four defenceman while Samuelsson brings veteran leadership and an expiring contract. Going the other way, Clarkson brings toughness (over 100 PIM last four years on average) and also scoring ability (14 goals on average) making him able to step in to play top-six minutes when needed.

A lot has to happen in order for this to trade to occur, but with the current signings by the Canucks, the statement of exploring the trade market and Parise wanting out, a deal very well could happen.

Parise is one of the hardest working players in the league as even said by Broduer both offensively (32 goal average) and defensively (plus-63 over five full seasons), which makes him and Kesler (41 goal scorer and Selke winner) a perfect match.