Trade Chatter Heating Up Around Canucks’ Luke Schenn
With the March 3rd trade deadline fast approaching, the Vancouver Canucks remain a focal point across the National Hockey League as the franchise looks to continue selling off pieces in exchange for future assets.
The Canucks kicked things off last month by trading former captain Bo Horvat in a blockbuster deal to the New York Islanders, signalling the beginning of an in-season roster shake-up. And with additional moves on the horizon, defenseman Luke Schenn could be the next domino to fall.
Schenn, an impending unrestricted free agent, has reportedly garnered plenty of interest league-wide from teams searching for help on the blue line and might be on the move very soon, according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta.
Pagnotta’s report lists the Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins as potential suitors, with the Tampa Bay Lightning – one of Schenn’s former teams – now out of the running. He also mentions that Vancouver’s asking price is a third-round pick plus an additional item.
The 33-year-old played two seasons in Tampa Bay from 2019-21, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups during that span – so it’s understandable why general manager Julien BriseBois would pursue a potential reunion. BriseBois doesn’t possess much high-end draft capital, though, after already trading the club’s 2023 first and second-round picks.
Boston has many trade chips available, including seven draft selections in 2023 and a trio of third-rounders through ‘25. Calgary, meanwhile, is without this season’s third-round pick but does feature a first and a second.
Schenn’s acquisition cost still has time to increase, with multiple teams inquiring about his services leading up to next month’s deadline. It remains to be seen if anyone is willing to pay higher than a third-rounder for a rental, though.
Still, considering the right-hander carries a manageable $850,000 cap hit, any team should be able to absorb the 6-foot-2 blueliner’s figure without requiring any salary retention or a third-party broker.
Despite playing for a disappointing 21-28-4 Canucks team, Schenn has remained effective during his age-33 campaign, tallying a team-high 247 hits and 77 blocks across 52 games. He has also registered three goals and 18 points while averaging 17:09 of ice time per night.
The veteran blueliner has proven valuable on the penalty kill, leading his team in hits (17) and blocks (17), ranking second behind teammate Tyler Myers (99:30) in total ice time (96:15). He’s also posted one assist and a takeaway during these situations.
Additionally, Schenn ranks third in on-ice Corsi (10.14 percent), Fenwick (12.21 percent) and expected goals (11.04 percent) among qualified Canucks defensemen, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Tyler Myers – due a $5 million signing bonus on July 1st, with a $1 million salary in 2023-24 – could be another Vancouver defenseman traded this season. His trade value, however, will likely increase once his bonus is paid, meaning he has a higher chance of being dealt during the off-season.
The same likely goes for Brock Boeser as well, especially since the four-time 20-goal scorer is signed through 2024-25, featuring a $6.65 million cap hit per season. Like Myers, any potential trade may have to wait until the summer.
For now, Vancouver’s front office will attempt to maximize Schenn’s trade value before encountering a significant roster overhaul after the season concludes.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Sebastien Launay. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.