Canucks & Senators Open to Trading 1st-Round Picks

The NHL Draft lottery commenced this week, leaving the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators with the 9th and 10th picks respectfully. If you ask their general managers, both will tell you they will be keeping their options open, which does include potentially trading their pick.

Both Canadian teams had very different offseasons last summer which resulted in the same outcome of missing the playoffs. Now they find themselves in the top-10 of a draft where it's been very difficult to evaluate talent. This may be the perfect year to move draft picks for NHL proven talent, and both the Canucks and Senators could use the help to their NHL roster immediately.

More Benning: “I’m just happy we didn’t lose any (draft) spots. There are nine guys we really like and I’m happy about that. And we’ll take the best player regardless of position.”#Canucks

— Ben Kuzma (@benkuzma) June 3, 2021

If the Canucks move their pick, expect them to acquire a power forward who can score. The team lost a number of key free agents the past couple of seasons, and are having a hard time lighting the lamp. It seems like letting Tyler Toffoli walk is going to hurt them for a couple more seasons. 

The Senators on the other hand are looking for a legit #2 center who can be paired with some of the team's young talent. With Josh Norris emerging into a top-six pivot, the team will be trying to find a perfect compliment for him and the rest of their group.

Photo credit:  Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports