The Vancouver Canucks can accomplish more this week than interviewing NHL Draft prospects in Buffalo. The annual NHL Scouting Combine is also an opportunity for new Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson to meet his peers and lay the foundation for trades as he commences the roster rebuild. That means moving veteran players with market value sooner than later.
Jake DeBrusk trade value
It is why Jake DeBrusk's name keeps popping up because there are key components at play with the winger that could attract suitors, especially Stanley Cup contenders, which suits him. DeBrusk exceeding the 20-goal plateau in four of the last five seasons, a palatable US$5.5 million salary cap hit for five more campaigns, and a preference to join a club built or building to win it all, makes waiving his no-movement clause a formality. He turns 30 years old in October and that career signpost is a reminder that the window to win is shrinking.
The 'R' word does not resonate with veterans and DeBrusk knew nothing but winning with the Boston Bruins. A rebuild is not part of his hockey vernacular. The Bruins were committed to winning and never missed the playoffs in his seven seasons.
"We had a core of guys who were older and it was always about the Cup," DeBrusk told this reporter before the trade deadline in early March. "A rebuild is hard for every player, but it is a great opportunity for younger guys. This game humbles everybody and it has been a little bit more than humbling this year. Obviously, that (rebuild) is not something I would be OK with or accepting."
"My game does not fit that."
That probably struck a nerve with the Canucks. DeBrusk tried to awkwardly stickhandle around his future in a year-end address, but all that matters is his trade value to stay true to the rebuild. It should not be hard to move the winger.
DeBrusk's frustration and potential destinations
DeBrusk's body language and tone painted a picture of frustration, including a disturbing healthy scratch Dec. 29, after just one even-strength goal through 37 games. He responded with five points (3-2) in a four-game stretch, but was still ticked off.
The Montreal Canadiens accumulated draft picks at the outset of their rebuild four years ago and identified players with trade value — Tyler Toffoli, Artturi Lehkonen, Ben Chiarot and Brett Kulak — to acquire assets. They also targeted players who had not hit their stride with their respective clubs, so there are pathways to a DeBrusk trade.
The Edmonton Oilers need a scoring winger to complement Connor McDavid, and DeBrusk had a career-high 28 goals in 2024-25. The Colorado Avalanche need to prop up a pitiful power play ranked 27th in the regular season at 17.1 per cent and 20.6 in the post-season. Nineteen of DeBrusk's 23 goals this season came with the man advantage, which ranked third overall.
The Canucks could package DeBrusk with a pick to pry the second-overall 2026 draft selection from the San Jose Sharks, who are on the upswing, but it is a slippery slope. Amid the Ivar Stenberg draft hype, the Sharks could lose blueliner Mario Ferraro to the open market, and could consider picking Chase Reid as a building block.
Lekkerimaki winging it, riddles in middle
There is also more intrigue in how the Canucks' roster shapes up next fall. They will learn what they really have in winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki (15th overall, 2022). He is only 21 but has yet to pair a heavy and accurate shot with compete to become an NHL roster mainstay. His season was also shut down in February and surgery assured an off-season unlike others as he awaited to get his health and game in order.
Lekkerimaki required shoulder procedures to repair a torn labrum and rotator-cuff ailment. How that affects his release and engagement is a pressing question. He had just three NHL points (2-1) in 13 games this campaign, and has nine points (5-4) in 37 career NHL games. A productive Lekkerimaki will advance the rebuild, but a tentative one will not.
There will also be the temptation to allow top-prospect centre Braeden Cootes, 19, (15th overall, 2025) to grow his game at the NHL level in a bottom-six capacity after a strong WHL season split between Seattle and Prince Albert, Sask. He had a combined 63 points (24-39) in 45 games and added 23 points (7-16) in 20 post-season outings.
There are several other riddles in the middle to solve. Is unrestricted free agent Teddy Blueger, 31, getting a contract extension to be a culture carrier and key cog in the penalty kill? Can Filip Chytil, 26, stay injury free and avoid another crushing concussion that limited his season to 12 games? Is Elias Pettersson, 27, a true No. 1 pivot and Marco Rossi, 24, a true No. 2? And should Aatu Raty, 23, be moved up after an outstanding world hockey championship? He helped his native Finland capture gold Sunday and had seven tournament points (4-3) in 10 games. He also owned the faceoff circle at a 64.4 per cent efficiency.
