Guentzel's cost may be too dear for Canucks
Oh, where art thou, top-six winger?
He was easy to locate but hard to move. He was always in Pittsburgh. He's not in Vancouver.
Jake Guentzel topped the NHL trade-deadline wish list for several suitors — including the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers and the Vegas Golden Knights — but nobody pushed harder than the Canucks to make a pitch for the game-breaker and difference-maker.
Yet, that high level of shopping comes with sticker shock and second thoughts. The Canucks may look elsewhere for roster additions.
The Penguins prefer at least two NHL-ready players, and probably a high draft pick, so that likely means a credible number of games in The Show. However, it could also indicate first-round picks, who may be on fast-forward and not in need of seasoning, are coveted.
If that meant parting with winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki and defenceman Tom Willander, the Canucks probably hung up the phone.
Lekkerimaki, 19, is having a strong SHL season with Orebro HK. The 15th pick in the 2002 NHL draft had 29 points (19-10) in his first 43 games that featured confidence and creativity.
Willander, 19, is making a big NCAA rookie impact at Boston University. The 11th pick in the 2023 draft has 18 points (4-14) through 30 games, with a smooth-skating, smart thinking, overall effective game.
The pair are future foundation pieces, not disposable assets, regardless of a trade return.
As for the more seasoned, Nils Hoglander, 23, did the work in Abbotsford last season to build and complete his game. He has hit NHL career highs for goals (19) and points (28), and has become a roster mainstay.
So, now what?
If you don't land the big fish, you go for smaller catches. If wingers Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks and Tyler Toffoli of the New Jersey Devils fall into that big-bait category, the Canucks will drop a line elsewhere.
Jason Zucker, 32, isn't that big, imposing winger, or one with a cannon. However, the UFA is dependable and had 27 goals with the Pens last season, but just nine through 50 games this season with the Arizona Coyotes. He carries an expiring US$5.3-million cap hit. He has surpassed the 20-goal plateau on five occasions and had 33 goals with the Minnesota Wild in the 2017-18 season.
There's also the thought that in a seven-game playoff series you must physically wear down the opposition.
It's why Jordan Greenway, 27, an intimidating six-foot-six, 231-pound Buffalo Sabres winger, may be on the radar. He's tough, can chip in offensively, and commanded a level of Canucks interest in the past. He also has a year left on his US$3-million contract.
Now, upon further reflection, you can understand why the Canucks kicked the tires so hard on Guentzel.
The management team not only has a history with the sharpshooting, unrestricted free-agent winger, they also know he shows up when the spotlight shines brightest.
His 23 goals in 58 playoff games — and four in six Stanley Cup Final series games — speak to the finisher every team covets for a legitimate Cup run.
Guentzel's 22 goals through 50 games this season seem like a warm-up for the second season. He suffered a suspected finger fracture Feb. 14 and is eligible to return Sunday from long-term injury reserve.
And what does all this mean for Elias Lindholm?
The Canucks acquired the versatile forward from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 31. There was a report Tuesday that the UFA might be flipped to the Boston Bruins in a three-team play that would see Guentzel go to the Canucks.
It failed to occur Wednesday and Lindholm now looks like a swingand-miss acquisition.
The Canucks sent underachieving winger Andrei Kuzmenko, a 2024 first-round and conditional fourth-round draft picks, plus prospect defencemen Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo to the Flames.
The fourth-rounder becomes a third if the Canucks advance to the Western Conference final and Lindholm plays half the games.
Lindholm, 29, came here as advertised with a faceoff and penalty-kill pedigree, but is a third-line pivot with just six points (4-2) in 15 games. Struggling winger Ilya Mikheyev, who hasn't scored in 32 games, is on the second line. And Pius Suter is flanking Elias Pettersson.
Perhaps Lindholm, who's on an expiring US$4.85-million cap hit, is having acclimation problems. Maybe he needs more time. That's the hope, but not the reality. He could still be flipped.
Everybody was beating the good-news drum when he arrived. Former Flames teammate Nikita Zadorov knew what he thought Vancouver was getting and Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was enamoured by the skill set.
“When he's at his best, I put him in the same category as (Aleksander) Barkov and (Sean) Couturier as two-way centres who can play against top lines,” Zadorov said.
Added Tocchet: “In pressure situations, you're looking for smart players. He's going to protect that back door and have his stick in the lane to deflect a puck, instead of it getting on net. And if there's a rebound, he's got his guy. It's the little things.”
Right now, all those little things are missing.