Canucks not expected to make major moves ahead of deadline
Posted February 28, 2011 7:32 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Today is trade deadline day in the NHL, but don’t expect a major deal from GM Mike Gillis. He likely doesn’t want to mess with the chemistry with a team that currently sits comfortably in first place.
Vancouver also doesn’t have many pressing needs. Gillis’ team leads the league with goals for with 208 and the team is first in face-off percentage.
One area Gillis is looking to improve is the fourth line centre position. Twenty-one year old rookie Cody Hodgson is currently holding that position but the Canucks would like to get a veteran to play that role. They’ve been scouting Florida Panthers unrestricted free agent Marty Reasoner.
Last year Mike Gillis made three deals at the deadline. The one of note being Andrew Alberts for a third-round draft pick the Carolina Hurricanes turned into 6’4″, 19-year-old stay-at home defenceman Austin Levi.
Some of the best Canucks trades in history at the deadline include Mike Keenan making flurry of trades in 1998, that included Bryan McCabe and Todd Bertuzzi.
In 1991, Pat Quinn acquired Cliff Ronning, Sergio Momesso and Geoff Courtnall, important components of the 1994 Cup run.
Then in ’94 Quinn picked up Jeff Brown, Bret Hedican and Nathan Lafayette in the Janney/ Nedved fiasco, pieces that nearly completed the puzzle.
