Canucks Trade Rumors: UPDATE: 2nd Round Pick Trade Bait. NHL Trade Deadline 2011

VANCOUVER—Let the phones start buzzing! Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis came on the local sports radio Team1040 on Thursday, talking about the team's plans heading into the NHL trade deadline.

UPDATE: Bob McKenzie, hockey insider of TSN, is reporting late tonight about the Canucks dangling their second round pick this June for a depth forward at the trading deadline as we speak. McKenzie also stated that the asking price for Florida Panthers forward Marty Reasoner is likely a third round draft pick. Also, rumor says Zenon Konopka is also a targeted player by the Canucks. We will find out soon where the talks end up. Keep posted on my Twitter.

Saturday night, where the Canucks faced the Boston Bruins on Hockey Night in Canada, After Hours invited Mike Gillis and No. 17 Ryan Kesler on to the program for an interview.

Here are some tidbits from the Canucks boss regarding his take on the trade deadline on Monday:

- He is happy with how the team is playing considering all the injuries this season, especially missing two of their top defensemen, Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa.

- Kesler was asked about his baby boy born on Dec. 19th, exactly nine monthes on the day Mar. 19 when he signed a six-year contract extension...by twitter @passittobulis. What a way to celebrate!

- Gillis confirmed to Scott Oake, and the fans that Cory Schneider and Cody Hodgson are available when a trade is too good to pass up. Schneider is a huge part of the team, and deserves to be on a good team. Hodgson is going to be a great player in the NHL, but both are available when the right deal comes along.

- While Canucks aren't making Schneider or Hodgson untouchables, Mike Gillis has no intentions of shopping them around the league.

- Gillis says he talks with all the 29 team management teams right now. It is his job to see what is available.

- Playoff races are tight, so not many teams are willing to give up players, and many teams are competing for the same things.

- Mike likes the play of Chris Tanev. He played 20 minutes against St. Louis on Thursday, but he is developing nicely with the injuries that are occuring on defense.

- Come trade deadline, Canucks do not wish to interfere with the core players on this team, but prospects or draft picks are fair game.

- Fourth-line center remains a possibility, as the team want to develop Cody Hodgson on their own pace, and not throw him into the fire in the playoffs right away.

- Look for the Canucks to be buyers, and expect a couple of deals to come before Monday, Feb. 28th trade deadline. If not, the team is perfectly happy with what they have anyways.

Thanks for following your Vancouver Canucks.

This is Joseph Trenton

Follow me on Twitter for Canucks Insider Updates, Roster Changes, Trade Rumors @TrentonNHL