With the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline drawing near, Sportsnet is breaking down what each Canadian club has to work with as they head toward Feb. 24. We’ve sorted each roster into Trade Tiers to hash out who’s safe, who’s available and who’s likely on the move.
The Vancouver Canucks may have already made their 2020 trade-deadline play, making one of the first big splashes by acquiring longtime King Tyler Toffoli.
In exchange for the three-time 20-goal scorer (and one-time 30-goal man), the Canucks relinquished Tim Schaller, a second-round pick and prospect Tyler Madden — L.A. will also acquire an additional late pick in 2022 if Toffoli re-signs with the Canucks.
With the club sitting third in the Pacific, just a hair above Calgary and Arizona, and as injuries drop a few key names off the Canucks roster, the Toffoli deal could wind up a crucial factor in whether Vancouver can make the post-season when all’s said and done.
So, where does GM Jim Benning go from here? There’s a good chance Vancouver is done for the deadline after bringing Toffoli aboard. But if the club feels more minor tinkering is needed to mitigate the injury losses, here’s a look at where they stand, in terms of who could potentially move before Feb. 24:
Not Going Anywhere
Elias Pettersson The young phenom’s ascent continues, with a point-a-game pace leaving him on track for career-highs by the end of 2019-20. At this point the clock’s simply counting down until he takes over the league.
Bo Horvat The ‘C’ on his sweater says all that’s required about his future in Vancouver. The club’s two marquee centres are set for the foreseeable future, and as a bonus, Horvat’s on pace for a career-high in points, too.
Brock Boeser The young sniper — who’s in the first season of a three-year deal in Vancouver — likely was an untouchable name to begin with, but a rib-cartilage fracture that’ll keep him out well past the deadline (and potentially for the rest of the season) confirms he’ll be sticking around.
Quinn Hughes He’s already amassed 45 points from the back end as a rookie — and is on pace for nearly 60 — leaving him in contention for the Calder and potentially even the Norris. He’s as untouchable an asset as they come.
J.T. Miller The second-highest scorer on the roster in goals and overall points, bested only by Pettersson, Miller’s been one of the best off-season acquisitions league-wide. The 26-year-old’s playing his best hockey yet, and figures to remain in the picture for a fair while.
Micheal Ferland Injury issues have limited Ferland to just 14 games so far this year, and he’s now out for the remainder of 2019-20 recovering from a concussion. He’d likely stick either way, but certainly does with the injury in tow.
Tyler Toffoli He’s only just arrived, and should be a key addition to the Canucks’ top six, regardless of where he slots in.
Alex Edler The 33-year-old rearguard remains a crucial part of the Canucks’ cause, leading all skaters in ice-time and providing a veteran presence for the team’s young blue-liners.
Tyler Myers Myers is only one year into a five-year pact he signed with the Canucks last year. He also has a no-move clause, giving him full control over his situation.
Jacob Markstrom The 30-year-old has blossomed into a bona fide No. 1 for Vancouver, and with a .918 save percentage and 11.86 GSAA, he’s giving Vancouver everything they need in that role.
(Likely) Not Going Anywhere
Adam Gaudette He’s proven a valuable piece of the Canucks’ future, showing flashes of potential through his 110 games in the big leagues, and putting up a career-high 27 points so far this season. He most likely remains in the Canucks’ mix, but if a bigger deal is on the table, perhaps his name is one that winds up included.
Jay Beagle The veteran is perhaps more expensive than other potential bottom-six options, but has carved out an important role in Vancouver. If they needed to move salary, his $3-million cap hit might be an option, but for the time being he’s a key role player for the club — and has some control over his future with a modified no-trade clause.
Antoine Roussel Much the same as Beagle, Roussel has some no-trade control over any potential deal and plays an important role among the bottom-sixers — in this case, bringing a bit of sandpaper to the forward corps.
Thatcher Demko His first extended stay in the big leagues has gone well, and there’s no reason the Canucks need to part with him at the moment. Should a club desperate to shake up their tandem come calling, it could be possible, but what seems more likely is the 24-year-old remaining in the picture for the time being.
Josh Leivo The former Maple Leaf seemed to hit his stride at the NHL level last season, and has 19 points on the year this time around with UFA status looming. But a fractured kneecap sidelined him in late December, keeping him out for the remainder of the year, and likely negating any potential deadline deal.
Tyler Motte The same goes for bottom-sixer Tyler Motte, who’s performed well in his role ahead of hitting RFA status this summer. A shoulder injury knocked him out of the lineup in late January, and his four-to-six-week timeline from early February leaves a couple more weeks to go before a potential return, well after the deadline.
Oscar Fantenberg Ditto for Fantenberg, who’s dealing with a concussion at the moment and remains on the injured reserve. The 28-year-old looked good on the Canucks’ back end before he was felled by injury, and should be a good addition once he returns from the IR.
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Probably Safe, But It’s Possible
Chris Tanev The 30-year-old is no stranger to the rumour mill, with the league’s obsession with right-handed defenders often pulling Tanev’s name into discussions of potential trade targets. That he’s a pending UFA adds a little more possibility to the situation (though Tanev has some control over his future with a limited no-trade clause), but at this point it seems the Canucks would benefit more from keeping him in this mix as they push for a return to the post-season.
Jake Virtanen Also a name that’s come up in past rumours, and also a pending free-agent (though of the RFA variety). Virtanen’s been in the mix so long, it’s easy to forget he’s just 23 years old. He’s already put up career numbers in 2019-20, and is all the more important right now given the team’s injuries up front. He more-than-likely stays, unless a larger, can’t-miss deal is put on the table.
Troy Stecher The team’s recent blue-line additions have meant a reduced role for Stecher, who saw his average ice-time drop from over 19 minutes last season to around 15 this season. He’ll also be an RFA this summer and due for a raise from the $2.35 million he’s making in 2019-20. Allowing the 25-year-old to continue growing with the organization seems the better bet, but he’d certainly draw some intriguing offers if the team does opt to go in that direction.
Brandon Sutter Injuries have thrown a wrench into Sutter’s time in Canucks colours, particularly over the past couple years. He’s still been a useful piece when in the lineup, but does count a decent amount against the cap relative to his role. That said, a limited no-trade clause gives him some degree of control over his destiny as well.
Loui Eriksson There’s no question it would benefit the club to get out from under the Eriksson contract, as has been the case for some time. If it’s possible, it’ll happen, but with the 34-year-old only putting up 10 points on the year so far, that still doesn’t seem likely.
Find the rest of our NHL Trade Tiers lists here: CGY | TOR | EDM | OTT | WPG | MTL
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Could Be On The Move
Jordie Benn The veteran endured a lengthy stint in healthy-scratch territory this season before getting back into the lineup more recently. He can still be of use for the Canucks on the blue line, but given the time in the press box, the possibility for a fresh start for both sides could also be on the table.
More Likely To Move
With the Canucks already having swung what’s likely their primary deadline deal, moving out multiple pieces to bring Toffoli into the fold, there are no clear pieces sure to still move or deals they’ll need to make.
MONTREAL – Canadian National Railway Co. told employees this week it plans to relocate its operations in Jasper to near Hinton, Alta., about 100 kilometres away.
In a memo sent to employees in the fire-ravaged town, the company said it’s aiming to increase efficiency by minimizing train stops between Edmonton and Blue River, B.C., which sits across the Rockies.
CN plans to close its Jasper bunkhouse and build a crew change facility east of Hinton, with workers slated to clock in at the new site starting in September 2025, according to the document obtained by The Canadian Press.
“CN has made the decision to implement operational changes to improve network fluidity,” regional vice-president Nicole James said in the memo.
The union representing rail workers criticized the relocation, which affects about 200 employees, though no layoffs are expected.
“This is another devastating blow to the town of Jasper, after this year’s catastrophic wildfires. Rail is one of the largest industries in Jasper, after tourism, and CN’s move will cripple this community even further,” said Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.
“And for the workers who’ve already lost so much — some even their homes — this is a truly cruel blow.”
Union spokesman Christopher Monette noted that most residents or their spouses must work in town to qualify to live there under Jasper National Park’s residency rules. The company has told the union it will apply for an exception for the workers, he said.
CN spokeswoman Ashley Michnowski says the railway is committed to supporting employees through the transition and keeping them updated.
“These types of changes take time to fully plan out and implement. That’s why one of our initial steps was to have this discussion with our employees as well as advising the town of Jasper,” she said in an email.
A wildfire ripped through Jasper in July, destroying a third of the mountain town and displacing many of its 4,800 residents.
The blaze also caused smoke damage to the CN bunkhouse, which the company says it has worked to restore since it was allowed to re-enter the community with contractors on Aug. 16.
Engineers and conductors have been reporting for work in Hinton, roughly an hour away, since the wildfire.
With roots as a fur trade outpost, Jasper launched as a railway town in the early 20th century after tracks built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway — CN’s predecessor — paved the way for the municipality.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.
The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.
Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.
He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.
Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.
Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.
The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.
Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.
Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.
Veterans Tyson Beukeboom and Karen Paquin will lead Canada at the WXV 1 women’s rugby tournament starting later this month in the Vancouver area.
WXV 1 includes the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations (England, France and Ireland) and the top three teams from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States).
Third-ranked Canada faces No. 4 France, No. 7 Ireland and No. 1 England in the elite division of the three-tiered WXV tournament that runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 12 in Vancouver and Langley, B.C. No. 2 New Zealand and the eighth-ranked U.S. make up the six-team WVX 1 field.
“Our preparation time was short but efficient. This will be a strong team,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “All the players have worked very hard for the last couple of weeks to prepare for WXV and we are excited for these next three matches and for the chance to play on home soil here in Vancouver against the best rugby teams in the world.
“France, Ireland and England will each challenge us in different ways but it’s another opportunity to test ourselves and another step in our journey to the Rugby World Cup next year.”
Beukeboom serves as captain in the injury absence of Sophie de Goede. The 33-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., earned her Canadian-record 68th international cap in Canada’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in May at the Pacific Four Series.
Twenty three of the 30 Canadian players selected for WXV 1 were part of that Pacific Four Series squad.
Rouet’s roster includes the uncapped Asia Hogan-Rochester, Caroline Crossley and Rori Wood.
Hogan-Rochester and Crossley were part of the Canadian team that won rugby sevens silver at the Paris Olympics, along with WXV teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry. Wood is a veteran of five seasons at UBC.
The 37-year-old Paquin, who has 38 caps for Canada including the 2014 Rugby World Cup, returns to the team for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.
Canada opens the tournament Sept. 29 against France at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver before facing Ireland on Oct. 5 at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre, and England on Oct. 12 at B.C. Place.
The second-tier WXV 2 and third-tier WXV 3 are slated to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 12, in South Africa and Dubai, respectively.
WXV 2 features Australia, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales while WXV 3 is made up of Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain.
The tournament has 2025 World Cup qualification implications, although Canada, New Zealand and France, like host England, had already qualified by reaching the semifinals of the last tournament.
Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Japan, Fiji and Brazil have also booked their ticket, with the final six berths going to the highest-finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through regional tournaments.
Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team WXV 1 Squad
Forwards
Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., College Rifles RFC; Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);
Backs
Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que, Stade Bordelais (France); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ont., Westshore RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
