Captain Quinn Hughes urges management to make a trade
The Vancouver Canucks have ridden the «Victoria Van» to the tune of a 33-11-5 record, the best in the NHL. It could be argued these Canucks «Can» contend for a Stanley Cup as currently constructed.
Yet that's not enough for captain Quinn Hughes. The 24-year-old lefty and Norris Trophy leader is envisioning a shutdown righty on his side.
It's why the Canucks are hunting for a right-shot defenseman, and guess who's popped up on their radar? Chris Tanev is a former fan favorite who spent ten seasons (2011-2020) in Vancouver.
Quinn Hughes leading the charge for Chris Tanev's return
According to a report from ChekTV's Rick Dhaliwal, Hughes is all for bringing Tanev back, praising his impact on and off the ice.
Dhaliwal dropped the news, saying:
Tanev was a significant mentor during his Canucks days, especially for the young guns, fostering a tight team vibe. Hughes himself has sung Tanev's praises, and the idea of him returning excites the faithful.
Even though Tanev's 34, he's still a warrior. Over in Calgary, he's logging solid minutes, averaging almost 20 minutes of ice time per game. His impact isn't reflected on the stat sheet, as he's known chiefly for his shutdown skills, often taking on the burgeoning in the league and cooling them down for at least one night.
Potential Defensive Pairings: Strategizing with Tanev's Skillset:
Adding Tanev to the Canucks' blueline will be a game-changer, maybe teaming him up with guys like Nikita Zadorov, who Vancouver acquired from Tanev's Flames earlier this season, Ian Cole, or Carson Soucy to create a brick wall in front of their net.
The move could let Hughes and Hronek focus less on defense and more on scoring.
Yet, the question is how far are the Flames willing to go?
The Flames might want a first-round pick, considering Taven is a rental and making $4.5 million this season. The Canucks are scarce for space, and they might have to shuffle the roster around to make room.
However, Canucks aren't backing down. They're set on beefing up their squad, with hopes for a run at the franchise's maiden Stanley Cup, and fulfilling their captain's wishes. Watch this space for more.
| POLL | ||
Should the Vancouver Canucks pursue Chris Tanev's return to the team? No, it's not worth the investment. | ||
| Yes, he's a valuable addition | 394 | 46.9 % |
| No, it's not worth the investment | 446 | 53.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
