Conor Garland's future with Canucks hinges on one other trade, per Elliotte Friedman

In an unambiguous conversation between Jim Rutherford and Patrick Johnston, Rutherford has confessed that the Vancouver Canucks are in dire need of an overhaul.

The management in Vancouver wants some young guns, prospects, or even draft picks in exchange.

The national media attention has also been harsh. Many media conglomerates still lump the Canucks in the bottom tier of the league, and ESPN has placed them in the beyond-panicked group.

Having recorded a .435 points percentage in the first 23 games, Rutherford has understandably announced that they would be looking at some trade options among the pending UFAs, such as Evander Kane, because they would like to get younger, without tanking the season altogether.

The buzz in Vancouver is growing once again. However, the team isn't quite ready to hoist the white flag just yet, but each and every loss they experience gets them one step closer.

Elias Pettersson trade rumors appear to be an ongoing developing story, although the player's name will stay in the rumor mix until the team can prove they have what it takes to compete.

Kiefer Sherwood gets mentioned in the mix, too. He's in the last year of his contract and would become a UFA in July, opting for a contract extension worth no less than $30 million over six years, a pretty dramatic escalation, all the way through the age-36 season.

Vancouver doesn't feel comfortable committing that much term and dollars for a third-line player, even in light of Sherwood's recent play, toughness, and increased goal-scoring.

And as Elliotte Friedman stated, in the scenario where the Canucks do trade Sherwood, it makes the retention of Conor Garland even more likely, unless a can-not-refuse offer arises.

However, Friedman does not feel the Canucks are serious about trading Garland either. The Vancouver organization is at a crossroads. The next few weeks could set the course for the franchise.