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Canucks Trade Talk: 4 Veterans on the Block | Report
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- Canucks Trade Talk: 4 Veterans on the Block | Report
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
As the Vancouver Canucks navigate their rebuild, one of their main goals should be to acquire young players or future assets like draft capital. As we head into the one-month mark of the season, rumors have circulated around some of Vancouver's veteran players. Let us discuss some of those latest rumblings.
Canucks Rumors: Veteran Players on the Trade Block
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period , the Canucks are open to trading veterans such as Jake DeBrusk , Drew O'Connor , Filip Chytil and Luke Schenn , while looking to add young talent. This should not come as a surprise, as rebuilding teams need to strive to get younger so that when the team eventually comes out of the rebuild, the players will be in their prime.
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Jake DeBrusk Hottest Name on Canucks Trade Market
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk (74) skates against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
DeBrusk has been in trade rumors for months now. Many outlets have reported that DeBrusk was not willing to go through a rebuild. DeBrusk told Patrick Johnston of The Province before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline that a rebuild "is not something I would be OK with or accepting; my game doesn't fit that". However, DeBrusk has since walked back those comments and has never asked for a trade. DeBrusk, turning 30 in October, is at a crossroads in his career. He has not won a Stanley Cup, and on a rebuilding team, even getting into the Stanley Cup Playoffs may be a while off. Would he realistically even want to stay?
Will teams be desperately wanting DeBrusk's services? Probably not in a big way, but the value is there to an extent. He has scored 20 or more goals in four of his last five seasons and has been effective on the power play, scoring 19 of his 23 goals on the man advantage in 2025-26. A majority of those goals came from being a pesky net-front presence, putting home deflection goals or rebounds. DeBrusk has a cap hit of $5.5 million until 2031, a palatable contract as the cap continues to go up.
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O'Connor's Speed and Reliability
Vancouver Canucks' Drew O'Connor (18) skates with the puck under watch by Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Drew O'Connor is a hard-working player who has found an elevated role in the Canucks lineup, averaging around 15-16 minutes a night. He is a big, strong forechecker who can play both on the wing and at center. His speed may be his greatest asset, as he ranks in the 96th percentile this season in terms of maximum skating speed, according to NHL EDGE . He had a career-high in goals in the 2025-26 season with Vancouver, with 17 goals and 29 points. His finishing has been subpar in the early going so far this season, but the hard work is always there, which can be appealing to other teams. He carries a $2.5 million cap hit on his contract, which ends at the end of this season. He also has a 12-team no-trade clause.
Chytil's Injury History
Oct 22, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil (77) handles the puck against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Filip Chytil has had a tumultuous career so far, marred by concussions and other injuries, but when he is healthy, he is a speedy, play-driving forward. He is a very strong skater who excels at playing at the center of the ice. In his last five seasons, including this current one, he has played only 84 games, which is the equivalent of one full NHL season. It is hard to see him getting moved for much in return at the moment. However, his $4.437 million cap hit on his contract does expire at the end of the season, making him a possible rental for a team wanting a middle-six center.
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Luke Schenn Less Likely?
Sep 26, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn (2) passes the puck against during the third period against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
Trade rumors with Luke Schenn in them come as no surprise given his trade history. He has been traded at the trade deadline in three of the last four seasons, including once by the Canucks in 2023. This is Schenn's third stint with the Canucks, and this time, he signed in Vancouver as a free agent in July 2026 as a veteran presence and a mentor on the blue line for the young defense corps, including Zeev Buium , Tom Willander and Elias Pettersson . Schenn has expressed no desire to leave this time, as his contract reflects, which has a no-movement clause attached to it.
WhoGets Traded First?
From this list of players given by Pagnotta, DeBrusk and O'Connor seem the most likely to be traded. DeBrusk has the ability to score 20 goals every season and can be a strong force on the power play. He also has a decent cap hit. O'Connor is a pending unrestricted free agent who can be useful as a depth piece to any team. Of course, other veteran players like Brock Boeser or Filip Hronek will also be in trade talks, as they were this past offseason. One thing is for sure: GM Ryan Johnson will not sit idly by and will be busy in his first year on the job.
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