Jim Rutherford prepares Canucks fans for an active trade deadline with no untouchable players
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Jack Sutherland
Jan 14, 2026 (10:44 PM)
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Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford has essentially confirmed that there is no player on the floundering roster who is safe with the Trade Deadline approaching.
There isn't anything going right for the Vancouver Canucks right now, who have sunk to the bottom of the Western Conference standings and were even recently passed by the Winnipeg Jets for last place.
Their multi-game winning streak last month after the trade of captain and former Norris Trophy winning defenseman Quinn Hughes seems like a lifetime ago, and there are now multiple other players who could soon be moved.
Some of the names being included in heavy trade rumours include Kiefer Sherwood, Conor Garland and Elias Pettersson.
Per new comments made today by president Jim Rutherford, no player on the Canucks roster should consider themselves safe.
It's our duty to take calls on everyone. When we started the process the intent at the start was to not get into any core player. It may very well end up staying that way. But it certainly would not make any sense for Patrik (Allvin) to not listen to anybody. - Jim Rutherford
The Trade Deadline this year is March 6.
Jim Rutherford Knows More Losing Is Coming
Not surprisingly, Rutherford admitted that the more that the losses pile up, their chances of getting a high draft pick in the upcoming 2026 NHL Entry Draft increase.
That's correct. If we don't stick to it, the rebuild process will take longer. And get the people here what they deserve: a championship-calibre team. Our preference is to pick (in the draft) as high as we can. - Jim Rutherford
Multiple teams in years past have found out the hard way that being in last place does not guarantee them the first overall pick, and there were more than a few people who were upset when the New York Islanders, who barely missed out on the playoffs last year, won the Draft Lottery and the right to take young phenom defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick.
But with each loss, Vancouver does improve their chances of getting the best odds to win the Draft Lottery.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 14 | 149 ANSWERS Jim Rutherford prepares Canucks fans for an active trade deadline with no untouchable players Which player will likely be traded first from the Canucks? | ||
| Kiefer Sherwood | 76 | 51 % |
| Conor Garland | 13 | 8.7 % |
| Elias Pettersson | 49 | 32.9 % |
| Other | 11 | 7.4 % |
| List of polls | ||