from Michael Traikos of the National Post,

Is it a first-round pick, a top prospect and a young roster player? Is that too little? Too much? That might depend on whether Horvat is just a rental player or whether the team that acquires him can then ink his name to a long-term contract extension.

Either way, it’s time to get those offers in.

The Vancouver Canucks are officially open for business. And they aren’t waiting around until the March 3 deadline to make a deal.

That was essentially the message that president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford sent on Monday in a mid-season address that seemed directed more towards the other 31 teams in the NHL than Vancouver’s ownership group or a disgruntled fanbase that has been littering the ice with Canucks jerseys this year.

“We are taking a step back, whether we want to or not,” Rutherford told reporters. “And we’re not happy about it. And I’m not laughing about it. But the fact of the matter is, we are in the process of taking a step backwards.”

Rutherford, who didn’t sugarcoat his words, was praised for his blunt — if not brutal — honesty regarding where the Canucks are, what got them here and how they are going to turn things around. At times, he blamed himself, saying he was disappointed in the job he’s done. And though he was optimistic that better days are ahead, he also said the next year is going to be painful.

Major surgery is going to be required. Unpopular decisions are going to have to be made.

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