The Vancouver Canucks were dealt a serious blow when it was announced that defenseman Kevin Bieksa would miss six to eight weeks after undergoing hand surgery.
The veteran blueline was second on the team in ice time and third in both hits and blocked shots.
Currently tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, the Canucks can't afford to lose further ground to the Sharks or Jets or let the Flames pull away.
As such, Canucks GM Jim Benning may be forced to enact a deal or two ahead of the NHL's March trade deadline in order to shore up his roster for the expected, but not yet certain, postseason push.
It was revealed on a recent episode of TSN's Insider Trading, via NBC Sports, that Bieksa's absence has the team scouring the NHL landscape for blueline help, and, more specifically, they have been talking to the Boston Bruins and GM Peter Chiarelli about Matt Bartkowski.
"We'll keep an eye on the Vancouver Canucks obviously with Bieksa out for a long period of time (6-8 weeks after hand surgery). They're reaching out to teams and looking for help defensively.
"They've connected with the Boston Bruins with some interest in Bartkowski, but if they're going to make that move the Bruins are going to likely have to add a d-man themselves."
Interestingly, two Bruins scouts were spotted at Rogers Arena on Tuesday, according to Ben Kuzma of The Province.
As Kuzma notes, the Bruins are rumored to be seeking help on the wing and a potential Bartkowski deal for the Canucks and Benning could start and end with winger Zach Kassian headed to Boston.
"Boston has blueline signing priorities in RFAs Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug, but UFA Matt Bartkowski, 26, is expendable. His expiring $1.25 million US contract is attractive and with his underachieving four assists in 20 games this season, he won't carry much contract leverage. The Bruins have been looking for a gritty winger and could covet Zack Kassian, 24, who has a year left at $2 million, in return for Bartkowski, who has fallen off his top-four form of a year ago."
The 26-year-old Bartkowski has appeared in only 20 games for the Bruins this season, managing just four assists; significantly lower numbers than he managed in 64 games last season. Kassian has battled a finger injury and has found the back of the net just two times in 25 game appearances.
With the unproven Frank Corrado next in line to replace Bieksa on the Vancouver blueline and facing limited defensive depth that could leave Benning and the Canucks in dire straits should another injury befall them, a Bartkowksi-Kassian deal may be a fit for both sides.
