Team looking to make trade to avoid losing player to waivers.

It seems like once we got those first few trades out of the way National Hockey League general managers have been much more open to negotiating trades.

According to hockey insider Bob McKenzie the latest team looking to get a deal done is the Vancouver Canucks, who have received several calls regarding the availability of forward Chris Higgins. There was some belief Higgins could be waived, but according to McKenzie Vancouver believes he can be traded for some kind of return.

While Higgins would certainly have been considered a quality depth addition to a roster last season, he is currently on pace for the worst season of his professional career., and while Vancouver believes they can deal him his value is questionable.

However if Higgins can turn it around he does come with an additional year of security on his contract, and if Vancouver were to retain a significant portion of his salary it could make him a worthy gamble for a general manager looking to stack some depth on his roster. He earns $2.5 million this season as well as next season.

[pub]