from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News,

The Vancouver Canucks have been a slightly more competitive team in recent games, going 5-4-1 in their past 10 contests. But that’s not nearly enough to justify Canucks management choosing to go to battle with the same group of talent for the rest of the season. This can’t be the second year of them fighting uphill through the final three-quarters of the year, only to fall short of a playoff berth.

Even then, even if they did beat the odds and clawed their way back through the Pacific Division’s bottom half, and did wind up earning a low post-season spot, does anyone not employed by the organization really believe the Canucks can do any sort of damage once they get to the end of the year?

It’s clear now, after nearly one-quarter of the season, that Vancouver simply does not have the depth of talent, particularly on defense, to be a serious Stanley Cup contender. And that means GM Patrik Allvin and president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford must take an axe to the roster, keeping a handful of young players and shearing off the rest for whatever they can get on the trade market.

That means veteran forwards Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Connor Garland should be on the trade block. That means veteran defenseman Tyler Myers should join them there. Only Myers has a no-movement clause in his contract, but as per Cap Friendly, that’s only a modified NTC, with Myers able to submit a list of 10 teams he can’t be dealt to.

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