Sven Baertschi is on the trading block.

The Vancouver Canucks may not have a trade to announce just yet, but it sounds like one is not very far on the horizon.

According to a surprise report from Vancouver Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal of TSN, the Canucks are now working on finding a new home for long time Canucks forward Sven Baertschi. The news that the Canucks are looking to move the former first round pick comes as somewhat of a surprise given the fact that he has now been with the organization for several seasons, however it sounds like the motivation to make the move may be coming from the player himself. 

Although Dhaliwal did not state that Baertschi has formally requested a trade, he did say that Andre Rufener, the agent representing Sven Baertschi, would like to see a change of scenery for his client.

‘We would like to get traded, I am in contact with Jim Benning, he knows that,’ said Rufener as per Dhaliwal.

It certainly sounds a lot like both the player and the agent have requested that a trade be made and given the way that Baertschi has been used this season I suppose that should come as little surprise. The former 13th overall pick at the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft has played in just 6 NHL games this season for the Canucks and instead has had to bide his time in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets. Baertschi has played well for the Comets recording 4 goals and 18 assists for a combined 22 points over his 15 AHL games in the 2019 - 2020 season, but it seems that given today's news the veteran forward believes he should be playing at the NHL level.

"I am not happy with the way this season has gone for Sven, he played well when he was in the NHL, in my opinion he did not get the opportunity he needed," said Rufener.

Rufener has made it clear that he is currently working with the Canucks on finding a solution for their current predicament and that of course means a trade involving his client. In spite of the potential for hostility at this time however it sounds like both sides are amicably working together to find an answer to this problem.

Where do you think he will end up?