Can the trade work straight up?
This trade could be a deal that could go straight-up between the two clubs. Virtanen is in the first year of a two-year, $5.1 million deal with a yearly cap hit of $2.5 million. This deal would fit him under the Bruins cap as they would be sending out $3.675 million to the Canucks.
If the deal is done, these could be the lines that Cassidy could roll over the boards when the Bruins are fully healthy.
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Nick Ritchie-David Krejci-Craig Smith
Trent Frederic-Charlie Coyle-Jake Virtanen
Sean Kuraly-Jack Studnicka-Chris Wagner
This is a deal that could benefit both teams. Two first-round picks, both struggling with their teams and both have the talent to help their new team. Bigger things were expected out of the Canucks this season and things just haven’t gone as planned with them sitting near the basement of the North Division and already playing a league-high 25 games.
Swapping two young forwards could be a win-win for both teams as they hope a change of scenery would do the two former first-round picks good.