Vancouver Canucks: Analyzing Mike Gillis' Deadline Decisions

The Canucks were a very active team yesterday, involved in three separate trades. 

The approach Mike Gillis took today came as a huge surprise to fans. Most believed that Mason Raymond would be the one to go, and Cory Schneider was a possibility if a big name was coming in return.  

Neither player ended up being traded, but the player that has been seen as the future of the Vancouver Canucks was.  

The following is an analysis of the three trades the Canucks made on Feb. 27.  

Trade #1- Taylor Ellington, two fourth-round picks for Samuel Pahlsson

With Dale Weise and Keith Ballard out with injury, and Byron Bitz always a health concern, the Canucks were thought to be in dyer need of a gritty player, either at forward or defense. Samuel Pahlsson plays center; a position the Canucks did not need to expand on, and he does not bring the grit Canucks fans were expecting.  

Although the experience and role he played when he won the Stanley Cup undeniably brings a lot to the table, this move alone was not a good one.  

The addition of a center, however, was to prepare for the biggest trade of the night; one that saw a Canuck center being shipped away.  

Had the next trade not followed through, this trade would have been essentially pointless, as there would be no place for Pahlsson in the lineup. It was a bold move to pick up such a player with the possibility of things not playing out as planned. But, thankfully for Gillis, the next move came off as well.  

Although the addition of Pahlsson did not leave the Canucks with a surplus of centers in the end, at 34 years old and an upcoming unrestricted free agent, the possibility of Pahlsson being simply a rental is high. Two fourth rounders and a minor league player is too much to give up for a rental of that calibre.  

Trade #2- Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer for Zach Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani

This move was without a doubt the highlight of a fairly uneventful trade deadline. Thus far with the Canucks, Hodgson has put together a Calder Trophy nomination-worthy performance. With 16 goals and 17 assists, the rookie has quickly become a fan favorite. 

When the news came out that he had been traded, most were shocked and disappointed, but when you look at the players coming the other way, it could be a long-term win for the Canucks.  

As mentioned, the Canucks were in need of some size and grit. At 6'3", 214lbs, Zach Kassian brings just that. The former first rounder has developed slower than Hodgson, but he is still expected to be a star in the NHL. 

Despite that, the fact that he's developed slower and was drafted slightly later than Hodgson makes this an uneven trade if it were straight up.  

What really makes this a win for Vancouver, is the addition of Marc-Andre Gragnani. Buffalo has been one of the worst teams in the league this season. With an average plus/minus of -3, and just four players above 0, Gragnani stands out at +10, with the next closest player seven behind.  

If there was one positive thing the Sabres could take from this season, it was that they had a young defenseman who could find success on a failing team.  

Alexander Sulzer was also involved in this deal, but was fairly insignificant. As a former 92nd-overall draft pick and a player who's moved teams three times and never played a full season, Sulzer is a long-shot to be an impact player on the Sabres roster.  

While Cody Hodgson will be greatly missed and playing the rest of the season without his offensive talent could impact the team, this is an overall win for the Canucks.  

Trade #3- Andrew Gordon for Sebastian Erixon

The final trade of the day was as insignificant as it comes. Andrew Gordon is a former seventh-round, 26-year-old winger with a -10 rating in just 37 games this season. Sebastian Erixon is a 22-year-old undrafted defenseman from Sweden, who's never played a game in the NHL. 

With seven NHL points combined between the two, the only impact they could have on their respective teams is a negative one (if they ever crack the lineup).  

Overall Grade for Mike Gillis: 

Short Term- B

Long Term- A