The Canucks have some holes to fill … Hughes and the expansion draft
Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province: The Vancouver Canucks are lacking in five or six spots and need to fill before they can be taken seriously.
Their lack of depth is showing.
They don’t currently have and need to add an impactful defenseman, as well as another impactful forward.
Free agency may not be the area to fix this problem, but they may not have a choice.
If the Canucks are considering making a GM change, Vegas Golden Knights assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon may be the best candidate.
Sportsnet: (Quinn Hughes is now signed to an entry-level deal) Nick Kypreos on Hughes playing for the Canucks this season.
“There’s talk of, if he plays 10 games this season, it would make him eligible for the Seattle expansion draft in 2021. And barring a late unexpected playoff push, I don’t think Vancouver will let that happen,” Kypreos said.
Hughes’ NHL debut could be delayed.
“Could he play as early as Wednesday? That’s a possibility,” said Kypreos. “But he did block a shot the other night on his ankle, which could jeopardize that start.”
No loophole for the Coyotes
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 960 and was talking about how Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka was looking for loopholes that would allow them to trade for a player after the trade deadline. thought you could trade for someone but they wouldn’t be playoff eligible, but that is no longer the case. Only European free are allowed to be added to your roster.
“But he looked. He checked to see after Stepan got hurt if there was a way he could add to his team to give them a chance, but the CBA doesn’t really allow you to do it. And I guess there was nobody overseas that they liked.
“But they looked into it, and I thought it was a really smart idea – maybe go and see if you could go and get somebody who at least can get you there, even if you couldn’t use them once the post-season started. But I didn’t realize the CBA doesn’t allow you to do that anymore.”
