There has been -- and no doubt will be -- many questions about what the Canucks will do before or at the NHL trade deadline. What are their needs? It's pretty clear that the Canucks could use another defenceman just in case one of their top four goes down, as well as a little grit and muscle in their bottom-six forward group.
I don't believe the Canucks are going to make some sort of giant splash before the deadline. I think Mike Gillis is looking to supplement what he already has in order to try and make another lengthy run. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/06/murphy_canucks_deadline/
Shacks' Take: It's rare for Murph to write an article and even more rare for Murphy to put any effort into it, so it comes as no surprise he's up to his usual low standards with this article. I'm sure there's more than one trade partner Mike Gillis is considering yet the writer only mentions the trade partner and players that have been discussed at length by other media members. Murph's assertions are all valid, Tuomo Ruutu and Bryan Allen are both players that might help the Canucks, Mason Raymond is a possibility as a return in the trade, Cody Hodgson and Cory Schneider are not unless the return is much greater. My problem is these players have all been discussed at length by every trade tracker panel on tv. As a Canuck insider you would hope he would have at least one original thought or try to do a little research to explore several trade options.
Oh, Murphy also weighed in on whether he thought Bitz was the answer to the bottom six toughness. Using his usual extraordinary hockey knowledge, he thinks it's possible if he plays well. Thanks for that Murph, I'm guessing when Sportsnet needs to know if Sedins will make top line players they'll put your crack reporting skills on the case.
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