The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly open for business, and Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving better be calling to find out the asking price on a few of their players.

Vancouver hasn’t met expectations thus far with a 10-12-2 record. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford were listening to trade offers for their veteran players. Considering their tough start, and cloudy future with their captain, you can’t blame the Canucks management duo for wanting to make serious changes to the core of their roster.

As for the Maple Leafs, they’re still trying to rally their way out of the Eastern Conference basement. Injuries have played a major role so far this season, but there’s also been several players underperforming, and unfortunately for Treliving, most of the players he’s brought in have underperformed. Treliving isn’t afraid to make bold trades and another one could be coming with the Canucks as dance partners.

Here are three Canucks the Maple Leafs should be inquiring about:

Quinn Hughes

If the Canucks get an offer they can’t refuse for Quinn Hughes, they’re going to listen. Rutherford has been wildly open about the fact Hughes is a free agent in two seasons and is interested in joining his brothers on the New Jersey Devils. Regardless, Treliving should have a ton of trade interest in a top-3 defenceman in the league.

Hughes is signed through next season at $7.85 million AAV, he has no trade protection and can be moved at will. Considering he spent a big chunk of his childhood in the Toronto area, this could be a long-term destination and an extension could be worked out over the next 18 months.

This would represent a seismic change for the Maple Leafs, and it would likely require a premium that would be uncomfortable: would the Maple Leafs consider involving Matthew Knies in a deal for Hughes?

Adding Hughes is the perfect time to unload Morgan Rielly’s contract, and appears to be one of the few places Rielly would consider waiving his no-movement clause for. Knies and/or Easton Cowan would likely have to be included here as well, and the same can be said about goaltender Dennis Hildeby, as the Canucks could use more depth in net. Rutherford wasn’t shy to comment on the trade speculation and admitted he’s looking to get younger, so adding NHL ready players in Cowan, 20. and Hildeby 24, could appeal to the Canucks’ brass.

Hughes would immediately become the best defenceman the Leafs have had in decades, and seeing him eat minutes in blue and white, and bring a game built on speed and skill, and elite hockey IQ would be very fun to watch for Leafs Nation. Knies and Cowan have bright futures, but it’s not often you get a chance to acquire a Norris contending defenceman, and if Hughes is indeed available, Treliving better be making his best offer.

Kiefer Sherwood

After scoring a career high 19 goals last season, Kiefer Sherwood is once again finding the back of the net, posting 12 goals in his first 23 games. As a pending free agent, who earns just $1.5 million AAV, there’s going to be plenty of teams calling about the bang-and-crash forward.

Sherwood would fit in nicely on a Craig Berube-coached hockey club, as he loves to get to the dirty areas of the ice, keeps his game simple, works extremely hard, and is versatile to play in all situations. Sherwood is averaging a career high 17:43 of ice-time per game, including on both sides of special teams, and his 98 hits on the season come a year after he led the league with a whopping 460 hits!

Because his cap hit is so low, the bidding war for Sherwood could be the busiest conversations Allvin and Rutherford have, which means, Treliving will need to be careful to not overpay for a forward who has just two good seasons under his belt. A late bloomer, the 30-year-old Sherwood will be looking to cash in on his next extension, and considering the contracts of Dakota Joshua and Max Domi the next couple of seasons, it would be a touch risky to add a similar deal in Sherwood on the books.This feels like a trade where the Canucks ask for Nick Robertson in return, and the Maple Leafs should do whatever they can to keep Robertson in the mix in Toronto. Adding Sherwood should be on their radar, they just shouldn’t mortgage the future considering how he has just two good seasons under his belt.Jake DeBrusk

The Maple Leafs know exactly what DeBrusk brings to the table as they’ve been facing him for years when he was with the Boston Bruins.  After a season and a bit with the Canucks, could DeBrusk be one of the veterans Allvin winds up moving?

The 29-year-old winger is signed through the 2030-31 season at $5.5 million and owns a full no-movement clause until the 2027-27 season, but joining forces with the Maple Leafs could be something DeBrusk considers. The Edmonton, AB native has scored eight goals in 23 games this season, after posting a career high 28 goals last year in his first season in Vancouver.

DeBrusk would immediately jump into the Leafs top six, he’d be a great complement to their group, and he’d elevate their power play. Add in the fact he’s killing penalties more, and his never shy to play a physical, in-your-face brand of hockey, and this could be a great match for the Maple Leafs.

It feels like the Canucks would immediately ask for Cowan or Robertson, and obviously the Leafs would push for the latter. Domi could be included to help balance out the finances, or perhaps defenceman Brandon Carlo, who is owed $3.48 million AAV through next season.

Regardless of who is heading to Vancouver, adding DeBrusk in Toronto would be a huge addition for Treliving and the Maple Leafs. Despite the slow start, the goal is to win the Stanley Cup as soon as possible, and having DeBrusk in the Leafs’ top six, gives them a chance to do so, and certainly elevates the talent level among their forward group, with a proven playoff performer.

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