Canucks Look to Make a Splash at the Trade Deadline

With the trade deadline fast approaching, the time will come where teams will look to make a big splash to propel them into the playoffs. The Canucks, while not the desperate team now that they were in January, still have approximately $2.5 million prorated room in salary cap space to put to good use.

However, obtaining a rental player will not affect that $2.5 million in cap room, so the Canucks, especially given their recent hot streak, can no doubt be seen as buyers at this year's trade deadline.

The problem right now is that everything has gone so smoothly for Vancouver of late that it's hard to know who the right player is to move. A while ago a top six forward was most likely at the top of Mike Gillis' wish list, but given the great play of Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows, they may be reluctant to make a move there.

Two areas the Canucks will likely try to address are getting a puck moving defenceman for one, and secondly perhaps getting some third line grinders or presence to help make the Canucks more of a complete team. The problem in getting a puck moving defenceman is that there are about a dozen teams in the market for one right now.

Vancouver will no doubt throw their hats in the sweepstakes for Jay Bouwmeester, and don't count out a run at Toronto's Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle is perhaps more likely to go right now, as Brian Burke appears to be preparing for a fire sale in Toronto to rebuild the Leafs.

Getting the likes of Bouwmeester or Kaberle will depend on how high the price is for those players is and who the Canucks are willing to move to rent these players. While Mattias Ohlund could be moved given his disappointing season and the fact that he is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, the amount of ice time he logs game by game may be something they are not willing to get rid of.

Getting some good third or fourth liners may be a little easier to come by. One player who could be on the move is speedster Mason Raymond, who was expected to have a breakout season but has been in and out of the lineup of late and has really struggled to find consistency.

Don't be surprised to see the Canucks make a move for the likes of a Mark Recchi or Gary Roberts, both veterans who still have a lot of toughness and can still get the job done.

The Canucks will no doubt have some activity on the trade front, but it will depend on how far management is willing to go to make this team a contender come playoff time. If Gillis is true to how he has been so far, then Canuck fans should be in for a very interesting upcoming week.