The Vancouver Canucks plan on looking to add Canadian players
Sportsnet: Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford was on the 100% Hockey Podcast with Darren Millard and John Shannon and said that he’d like to have more Canadians on their roster.
“We would love to have more Canadian players,” Rutherford said. “I’ll make that very clear. But if there’s a player, from whatever country in the world that can come contribute to the Vancouver Canucks, we’re going after that player. At this point in time, when I look at our team, I’d like to see us have more Canadian players on it.”
The Canucks only have four Canadiens currently on their roster – Jake DeBrusk, Evander Kane, Tyler Myers and Pierre-Olivier Joseph – and three of them could be traded by next week’s deadline.
NHL Rumors: Philadelphia Flyers and Players Trade Values on the Rise
The Canucks will be looking to players in their mid-20s or younger. The Canucks don’t have many untouchables, but they won’t be giving players away for the sake of moving them.
“There are some, I won’t get into them,” Rutherford explained. “I don’t wanna suggest that all our players are available, because they’re not. But I would say the list is relatively short.”
The Canucks priority is to get younger
Sportsnet: Jim Rutherford said on the 100% Hockey Podcast that defenseman Filip Hronek has been their best player and is part of their long-term plans. They’ll use the deadline to acquire more assets and they want their young players, including some they may acquire at the deadline, to play in the NHL and adjust to it.
NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks, and the Montreal Canadiens
“What we need to do now is get as many young players in here and get established as a young group that’s gonna grow together and want to be here for a long time,” Rutherford said. “That’s our priority right now.”
If you love our reporting, choose NHLrumors.com as a preferred source on Google.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.