Canucks Trade Rumors: 3 Best-Fit Top-Six Centers to Target for Vancouver

The Vancouver Canucks sent center JT Miller to the New York Rangers, and while they got Filip Chytil in return to help fill a center spot, they're still looking at "strengthening their lineup down the middle above all else," as we head to the trade deadline, per Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal in The Athletic.

With that, the pair decided to list their choices as "best fits" for the Canucks to target for a top-six center. The team is intent on holding onto its 2025 first-round pick, however, so it could take some creative dealing to get it done.

Brayden Schenn, St. Louis Blues

The recent revelation that the Blues are listening on their captain was a welcome addition to the center market for contenders looking for a boost up the middle. But the Canucks would have plenty of competition in the Schenn Sweepstakes, if it evolves into that, and St. Louis won't be just giving him away. The price is said to be prohibitive.

But as a fit, and in an attempt to settle things down in a tumultuous season, "He’s the sort of highly respected leader and professional the Canucks might benefit from adding to the organization, especially with the way this season has gone," write Drance & Dayal.

Josh Norris, Ottawa Senators

The Canucks have been interested in Norris in the past, note the writers, and he has a close relationship with Quinn Hughes, going back to their days at the University of Michigan. But Norris is currently out for multiple weeks in his latest injury blow, and when he has played, his 19 goals in 50 games have raised his price tag in any potential trade.

Dylan Cozens, Buffalo Sabres

Cozens' availability has been well-documented this season, and with his disappointing development the past year and a half, he has the potential of a high-upside reward. His $7.1M cap hit, while he's not living up to it this year, could look like a bargain if he ever got back to that 31-goal potential he showed just two years ago. He's got the size and physicality to entice head coach Rick Tocchet if he gets his offensive game back.

But, as Drance & Dayal note, the Sabres are looking for legit NHL talent in return, and it's not clear that the Canucks would have the assets to pull it off (no, an Elias Pettersson return doesn't make a lot of sense).