Brewing up robust NHL trade-deadline servings

Good morning. It’s the best time. It’s coffee time.

I’m not going to dwell on a methodical 2-1 victory for the Vancouver Canucks in Anaheim on Sunday. They were better than the Ducks because they were rested and ready for a re-set.

They moved pucks better, were stronger on the walls and tougher to dislodge from in front of the opposition net. Rest and recovery are always the best weapons to ward off fatigue and failure.

Goals by Nils Hoglander and Conor Garland were the result of sweet feeds and fine finishes and Casey Desmith was solid to backstop the first stop on a three-game trip.

“For the most part, it was a grind game. You have to win those 2-1 games and we didn’t give them a lot,” said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “But we got a little loose in the second period with some turnovers and we have to learn from that.

“But I did like the team effort.”

Now, on to three robust morning coffee servings.

In anticipation of the NHL trade deadline Friday at noon (Pacific) — and obvious need for a veteran top-six winger to push the pace for the stretch drive and playoffs — I’m kicking the tires on Jake Guentzel, Frank Vatrano and Tyler Toffoli.

Of course, it’s buyer beware and sticker shock.

However, we do know his much about how this management group functions:

— President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford likes to get ahead of the trade pack. Hence, the multi-package play that sent under-achieving winger Andrei Kuzmenko to the Calgary Flames on Jan. 31 for unrestricted free-agent forward Elias Lindholm.

— Rutherford isn’t afraid to swing for the fences in a gofor-it-all season, but at what cost? Is he willing to part with the future to push the present agenda?

— The Canucks need a topsix winger to add presence and pop, especially with Ilya Mikheyev going 31 games without a goal and still struggling following February 2023 knee surgery.

Here are trade-deadline scenarios that could gather momentum or fade this week. So, have a cup or two, or three, and sip and ponder:

FIRST SERVING: GUENTZEL: LANDING THE BIG FISH MEANS COSTLY BAIT

The highly-coveted Guentzel, 29, was injured Feb.14 and the pending unrestricted free agent was placed on Long Term Injury Reserve by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He’s eligible to return March 10, has 52 points (2220) in 50 games and is on an expiring contract with a US$6 million cap hit.

There’s speculation Guentzel’s upper-body injury may be a fractured finger, and if that’s the case, it won’t affect his playing status or asking price of what several suitors will have to part with — and it’ll be a lot. The aging Penguins need prime prospects, not draft picks.

If that means the Canucks have to part with any of their big three in a deal — winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki or defencemen Tom Willander or Elias Pettersson — it should be a non-starter.

However, if you have to part with Pettersson as part of a different package that’s palatable to make it happen, that might be Rutherford’s play.