Rumor: Demko wants out of Vancouver

In case you missed it earlier today, the Vancouver Canucks traded captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a 1st round pick.

TSN insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting that the 1st round pick is top 12 protected, meaning that if the pick ends up in the top 12 of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft then it will remain with the Islanders and the Canucks will instead get the Islanders' 2024 1st round pick with no protection.

The Islanders are obviously getting the better player in the deal in Horvat, who is on pace for a career season. The thing is... Horvat is NOT signed past this season and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason. It remains to be seen what Isles GM Lou Lamoriello does with Horvat, but it's clear that Lamoriello and the Islanders have their sights set on a playoff spot this Spring, otherwise why would they stick their necks out so far for a rental player? But at the end of the day, the Islanders have had so much difficulty filling the net this season and they just went out and acquired a guy who's on pace to score 50 goals this season. That's a win, the true cost can and will be calculated at a later date.

As for the Canucks, they get a decent return for their now former captain. Beauvillier seems like he's been around forever, but he's just 25 years old and, arguably, hasn't even hit his prime yet. He has 9 goals and 20 points in 49 games for the Isles this season and managed 22 goals and 34 points in 75 games last season. He's signed for one more season at $4.15 million, which isn't the best deal especially on a Canucks team that's loaded with contracts at the winger position. If Beauvillier's play continues to slide then he could become yet another financial liability on a team lousy with poor contracts. Beauvillier represents a bit of a risk for the Canucks and, to me, his addition in this trade is the most intriguing element about the deal. 

As for Ratu, some scouts believe that he's a bit of a diamond in the rough. The 20 year old Finnish forward was once seen as a potential top pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but fell precipitously in his draft year and ended up falling to the Islanders in the 2nd round at 52nd overall. He's been solid to start his pro career though with seven goals and 15 points in 27 games for the AHL's Bridgeport Islanders this season and a further two goals in 12 points for the NHL's Islanders this season. He's a legit NHL prospect and Canucks fans should be intrigued by his acquisition.

So... what's next?

There have been reports that the Canucks are looking to move veteran defensemen Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn, as well as sniper Brock Boeser. Earlier today Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman suggested that the Canucks could be looking to trade goaltender Thatcher Demko. Canucks insider Farhan Lalji echoed Friedman's report saying himself that he has heard rumors that Demko doesn't want to stay in Vancouver.

From Lalji on the most recent episode of The Vancast:

Does Demko want to be here? I've heard from people around that are close to it that Demko doesn't want be here. There's conversation in the background that Demko isn't enamored with the market, the scrutiny, the organization. Pick it, it's all of it.

- Farhan Lalji

Frankly, I think the Canucks would have to be CRAZY to trade Demko... especially right now. He's a tremendous goalie on a tremendous deal and with the way that this season has gone for both him and the Canucks jointly, his trade value is at an all-time low. I'd have to really get an offer that knocked my socks off to trade a goalie like Demko, especially given how much this team relies on him.

And if that weren't enough news in Canuckland today, it sounds like things have heated up a bit surrounding both Schenn and Boeser with Canucks blogger kufrank reporting that the Boston Bruins are sniffing around Schenn and that the New Jersey Devils are working with the Canucks on a deal for Boeser that would have 21 year old Swedish forward Alexander Holtz headed to Vancouver.

Check it out:

The Boeser rumor makes a LOT of sense to me. I wouldn't be surprised at all if a deal like this went down between now and the trade deadline. Can't say much about Schenn though if we don't know what else is in play, but he does strike me as the type of player who the Bruins and their fanbase would absolutely love.