With plenty of trade speculation that has surrounded Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser over the last few months, there are quite a few people who have connected the dots of the Canucks sending their promising 23-year-old forward to Minnesota, Boeser’s hometown, to beef up their defense. With a new contract in the hands of Jonas Brodin, general manager Bill Guerin needs to trade Matt Dumba and a swap of the two players make sense, according to Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre.
However, Canucks general manager Jim Benning said recently that he isn’t trying to trade Boeser, who has scored 71 goals in the past three seasons.
“Lots of GMs call us about our players,” Benning said. “I listen and sometimes we have a conversation. That’s my job as a GM. If I’m not listening to other GMs, then I’m not doing my job. But we’re not trying to trade Brock Boeser. I have not had a conversation with Minnesota about him.”
Another reason for the trade speculation is that Vancouver has three key unrestricted free agents it would like to re-sign and don’t have the cap space at the moment to do it. Boeser has a $5.88MM contract for two more years and while not an albatross of a contract, the team could save some cap space if they were willing to move one of their forwards to bring in defensive help. Dumba makes $6MM, so the contracts would even out, but then could allow the team to try to focus on re-signing Tyler Toffoli to replace Boeser in the lineup if the Canucks could make that swap.
- The Athletic’s Eric Stephens writes (subscription required) that the Anaheim Ducks still are waiting for backup goaltender Ryan Miller to make up his mind on coming back for a 18th season. Miller told Stephens that he has been on the ice approximately seven times now and is just trying to see if his body can adjust to sitting for as long as he has. Regardless, the 40-year-old has yet to make a decision, but the long layoff (he last played on March 10) has definitely made him think twice about returning. “You have things that you’re used to doing and when they stop, it’s shocking to the system,” said Miller. “I tried to install a little bit of normalcy so I can kind of get my sense of direction … I just thought that it was best not making any decisions either way if you’re sitting on the couch.”
- After a report from SportExpressen Saturday that Edmonton Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie was cut from Rogle of the SHL after the Oilers loaned him to the top SHL team, a new report this morning suggests that they have set their sights on Lavoie’s replacement. HockeyNews.se reports that Rogle is now in negotiations to recruiting Montreal Canadiens star prospect Cole Caufield to join the team. ESPN’s Chris Peters reports that Caufield has been looking for a place to play with his college season at the University of Wisconsin delayed, although the rumor last week was that he was headed to Switzerland. Rogle has declined comment on the situation. Caufield, the Canadiens top pick in 2019, scored 19 goals in his freshman year at Wisconsin.
- The Montreal Canadiens announced the passing of three-time Stanley Cup winning defenseman Albert “Junior” Langlois, who died at age 85 on Saturday. He helped the Canadiens win Stanley Cups in 1958, 1959 and 1960, the last three of their historic five-straight Cup titles. He also played for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins. The stay-at-home defenseman played 497 games in his NHL career with 21 goals and 112 points. PHR offers our condolences to his family.
I know the cap hits are close, but I don’t think the Canucks trade Boeser for Dumba in a straight swap. I think the Canucks would want another piece or two. Boeser is a goal scorer with a high upside. I’d want a draft pick and a prospect in the deal as well if I were the Canucks
Dumba has more value as a right handed offensive defenseman
Dumba isn’t a top pair defenseman. He is a solid defender but he is a more of a second pair defender. Right handed defenseman are of high value, but you don’t trade a potential high end goal scorer for just a second pair defenseman. Throw in a high draft pick and a prospect, then make a deal. I feel like the Canucks can get a better deal for Boeser than just a straight up swap for Dumba
I’d rather have Dumba. Scarcity matters. There are less players who can do what Dumba does than there are top 6 RW with some significant injuries.
I dunno I think boeser is pretty valuable on an offence strapped team like Minnesota I could see a hockey trade
Normally, I’d say you definitely trade a winger for a young RHD. But, not this time.
He might never reach it, but Boeser’s ceiling is Rocket Richard winner. Dumba is a very good player, he’s not a great one.
It could turn out to be Hall for Larsson Part Two.
Also, just to illustrate why Ron Francis has his work cut out for him…
Dumba for Alex Tuch, who says no?
While I’m at it, how about William Karlsson for Josh Anderson, who says no?
Vegas laughs at the idea of trading Tuch for Dumba
Why are you so consistently awful at trade proposals?
Probably because you are bad at understanding context and insinuation and lack knowledge of the game’s history. Possessing those, you might have realized that these were rhetorical illustrations, not trade proposals…even if the “Also, just to illustrate why Ron Francis has his work cut out for him…” didn’t tip you off.
Tuch is the player Minny gave up to protect Dumba from Vegas. Karlsson is the player CBJ gave up to protect Anderson from Vegas.
Teams aren’t going to make those mistakes again and Francis isn’t going to be able to assemble nearly as good a team as McPhee did.
@fwjbt
I get what you’re saying but David clarkson was also in that deal. That’s why they were able to get a player like Karlsson from CBJ.
That’s a fair notation to make regarding the deal, but…even with the Clarkson dump, does Jarmo make that deal again (giving up a 40 goal scorer to clear up an LTIR headache)?
I doubt it.
In every instance, the team giving up extra to protect a player not on their list would have been better off just letting Vegas take that player. They will learn from that and Seattle will suffer for it (while still being pretty good for an expansion team) compared to Vegas (who were loaded).
Tuch, Karlsson, Smith and Marchessault were all acquired as parts of side deals. IIRC, I think Winnipeg gave up a first round pick to protect Toby Freaking Enstrom. Mistakes that will not be repeated.
Boeser to Carolina for Brett Pesce? Makes a lot of sense for both teams.
Pesce is going nowhere.