Jim Rutherford reveals the four players he's ready to trade: 'They're available'
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Canucks President Jim Rutherford has revealed the four players he's ready to trade: Kiefer Sherwood, Teddy Blueger, Evander Kane, and Derek Forbort.
Call it what you want, says Jim Rutherford, but one thing is for sure: the Vancouver Canucks need to get younger.
Known for making early, deadline-style deals to add veterans, Rutherford is now flipping the script, offering the kind of players usually moved at the deadline months in advance.
It was further crystallised when Rutherford announced the four players he's willing to move: Kiefer Sherwood, Teddy Blueger, Evander Kane, and Derek Forbort.
The players Jim Rutherford wants in return for his veterans
The plan is pretty straightforward: younger players, prospects, or even draft picks to change the landscape of the roster for years to come.
But all of this begs the inevitable question: what does it mean for Quinn Hughes? The captain wants to play for a contender, and Rutherford has publicly wondered whether a future involving the Hughes brothers is part of the equation.
"I believe Quinn and his agent are aware of the direction we want to go. And they're aware of the direction they want to go. Everybody wants to play on a winning team. But there's different reasons why people make decisions," Rutherford said.
Is a youth-focused direction something management has already discussed with their franchise defender?
Vancouver went into the season thin down the middle, and Rutherford readily admitted it. Even as he said as early as spring how much they required a reliable second-line centre, the Canucks didn't sign or trade for one.
That thinness proved an issue in a hurry when Filip Chytil and Blueger went down hurt in the same game. Blueger is close to returning, but Chytil remains out of action with persistent post-concussion issues.
Why the Canucks may suddenly trade all their veterans
The Canucks were expected to fight for a playoff position and instead sit outside the race with just nine wins and an alarming defensive record.
On many nights, they dress five players Rutherford calls "first-year players," names like Max Sasson, Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, Elias Pettersson Jr., and rookie Tom Willander.
This is a team in transition, and the choices made now will determine what follows.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 25 | 286 ANSWERS Jim Rutherford reveals the four players he's ready to trade: 'They're available' Will at least one of these four players get traded this season? | ||
| Yes | 274 | 95.8 % |
| No | 12 | 4.2 % |
| List of polls | ||