Trades?

With the Canucks being so close to the cap, any trade at this point seems impossible unless they unload a major commodity for another, or picks and prospects. The only two players I could see them realistically unloading at this time would be Burrows and Raymond. However, the major obstacle there is salary: Burrows at $2 million per year until 2012-2013 season, and Raymond at $2.5 million for one more year. It wouldn't be impossible to move them but they would have to give up some high-valued prospects or draft picks in the deal.

I would not necessarily be opposed to such a thing, if it allows them to obtain a top winger that they are lacking at the moment, save for Daniel. How would you guys react to say Raymond, Hodgson and a variation of picks for a scoring winger? Might seem a lot for a rental type player, but if it gets the team over the top, is it that bad? Problem also would be finding a proven scorer at around Raymond's salary. Also just glancing at the standings shows that many teams are hovering just around the playoffs, with teams even in the 12, 13 and 14 spots being close to making an eighth seed. This means if any of those teams are trading, they will be requiring a lot in return. And nobody wants to make a Mike Milbury type deal (see bottom of post). As much as I love Trevor Linden, that deal was awful.