The Vancouver Canucks were immensely disappointed with their performance in 2024-25. Coming off a Pacific Division title, Vancouver was expected to make the playoffs once again. They had a fine season overall, but it was marred by off-ice drama and on-ice inconsistency.
The Canucks missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs after finishing with 90 points. They were six points off the St. Louis Blues, who took the Winnipeg Jets to seven games in the first round. The team didn’t miss by much, and they are looking to go again this upcoming season.
However, the team has been stuck seeking depth this offseason. One area, in particular, has frustrated the Canucks. Vancouver has sought a second-line center they can play behind Elias Pettersson. They have had some trade talks, but nothing has materialized.
The issue became more urgent when Pius Suter left town. Suter elected to sign a two-year contract with the Blues in NHL Free Agency. Vancouver’s already thin depth down the middle became even thinner.
There are some options Vancouver can explore before the season begins. With this in mind, Heavy.com is proposing the following trade between the Canucks and the Nashville Predators.
Vancouver Canucks acquire: Ryan O’Reilly
Nashville Predators acquire: Teddy Blueger, Aatu Raty, and a 2028 second-round pick
Ryan O’Reilly Has A Lot Left To Offer
Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty ImagesNashville Predators forward Ryan O’Reilly is a dependable center who can still play a second-line role.
O’Reilly has been one of the more reliable players in the NHL for a few years. He’s not a superstar by any means. However, he remains a defensive stalwart who can still play near the top of the lineup.
The 34-year-old is not a defensive specialist, though. He can contribute in the offensive zone. In fact, he has shown his offensive ability quite a lot since signing with the Predators in 2023. O’Reilly has scored 47 goals and 122 points in 161 games since the start of last season.
In Vancouver, O’Reilly wouldn’t be expected to carry the offensive load. Pettersson is a former 100 point scorer that the Canucks certainly want to get back on track. However, they will want the 34-year-old to continue producing as he has.
If O’Reilly can keep his form up for another season or two, it gives time for Filip Chytil to develop more. Once O’Reilly leaves, Chytil could be ready to step in as the long-term second-line pivot.
Canucks Must Get Creative To Fill Roster Needs
Vancouver does not have a ton of cap space at this time. They have a little more than $3 million, according to PuckPedia. As a result, they need to try and make some intriguing moves to add the players they need.
This trade pitch involves two roster players going from the Canucks to the Predators. Raty is a young center that Nashville could covet in a deal. Blueger, though, balances out the financials, offsetting nearly $2 million of O’Reilly’s $4.5 million cap hit.
The Canucks aren’t entirely up against the cap. Still, they may be in dollar-in, dollar-out mode for the foreseeable future. It will certainly be interesting to see how that impacts their ability to pull off a trade such as this proposed deal.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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