Insider: Canucks “Ready to Act”, Targeting 2 Main Needs on Trade Market

The Vancouver Canucks find themselves just two points out of 2nd place in the Pacific Division. And yet, the team hasn't been as consistent as it would like, and it's fairly clear that the team is not happy with its start to the season.

From star players off to slow starts, to trade talks surrounding a few others around the lineup (not to mention their No. 1 goalie only returning to action a week ago), the Canucks are still trying to get their roster where they want it to be.

On Tuesday, insider Pierre LeBrun stated in The Athletic that the team is focusing on two specific needs in the trade market, and they want to do it sooner rather than later.

League sources confirm that the Canucks are on the lookout for a top-four defenseman as well as a winger...
I don’t think Vancouver will wait too long if it can find a fit.

Yes, there's still nearly three months until the trade deadline, but as LeBrun notes, Jim Rutherford-run teams don't fool around when they've pinpointed a need. Last season, they traded for center Elias Lindholm before the end of January, well ahead of the March deadline.

The insider expects GM Patrik Allvin to act in the same manner this season.

The need for a top-four D has obviously been exacerbated by the long-term absence of Filip Hronek, who will be out until February. That injury "has been difficult to overcome, so that has fueled the need to trade for a top-four D", writes LeBrun.

Vancouver sits at 16-9-5, in 4th spot in the Pacific. That's currently good for the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

But the Canucks are "certainly making their calls" and "they're ready to act here."