Could the recent lower-body injury to defenseman Dan Hamhuis have the Vancouver Canucks exploring a couple, as of yet unheard about, avenues for upgrade?
Hamhuis' injury is significant and, though the issue isn't season-ending, it will keep him out of the lineup for "months," according to Dhiren Mahiban.
That's bad news for Hamhuis and the Canucks. At 13-6-1 and in second place in the Pacific Division, the team has been playing extremely well as of late.
Though Hamhuis' ice time and possession numbers had decreased somewhat this season, he's still a top-four defenseman playing serious minutes for a presumably Stanley Cup contending team - no easy thing to replace.
Among the potential options along those lines is the possible return of defenseman Sami Salo or increased inquiries into the acquisition of Buffalo Sabres defenseman, Tyler Myers, according to Daniel Wagner of The Vancouver Sun. The team has already called up 21-year-old Frank Corrado, but he is a natural right-side defenseman tasked with replacing a left-side defender.
The 40-year-old Salo, who spent nine seasons with the Canucks, played for the Tampa Bay Lightning last year and while he was fairly competent during the regular season, managed to dress for only two games during the playoffs. He also underwent wrist surgery in the off-season.
Salo was still effective last season at 39, but he's a year older and coming off surgery. He's also yet another right-handed defenceman, albeit one that the coaching staff would likely be a little more comfortable about playing on his off-side given his experience. There's certainly an appetite for Salo's return: every mention of him on Twitter seems to bring out the calls to "bring him home."
Myers, meanwhile, would provide a serious upgrade over Hamhuis, but would require a serious commitment of resources.
The Canucks could certainly aim higher and see if there's a deal to be done for Buffalo's Tyler Myers, who has been rumoured to be available in a trade for some time, but the cost would likely be prohibitive.
Matthew Sekeres, host of TSN 1040 AM's "Sekeres and Price" radio talk-show, tweeted that Hamhuis' injury has to have the Canucks further plumbing the depths of the Myers trade pool.
