Vancouver Canucks forward Shawn Matthias is kind of like Owen Wilson's character Hansel in the movie "Zoolander" - so hot right now.
The former second-round pick of the Red Wings has five goals - three of which came in a victory over the Boston Bruins Friday - thus far in February.
He's now got 13 goals and seven assists on the season in a third-line center role for the Canucks.
With Vancouver desperately chasing an NHL playoff spot - they're teetering on the inner edge of a Western Conference berth at the time of this article's writing - GM Jim Benning has been eyeing deals to upgrade the team and could be including the red-hot Matthias as a key piece in those trade talks.
"The Vancouver Canucks have been looking all season to make a deal for a top-six forward, and not surprisingly, it hasn't been easy to pull off. But it remains a top priority," writes Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.
"I would also suggest that with top defenseman Alexander Edler "week to week," as general manager Jim Benning announced Monday night -- joining Kevin Bieksa out long term and Chris Tanev day to day -- the Canucks would also like to add some defensive help."
With Benning chasing a top-6 forward and a potential defensive addition, Matthias' name has begun to pop up as potential trade bait. Mr. Untapped Potential, Zach Kassian, is on the block as well, according to LeBrun.
While LeBrun, who appeared on Vancouver's TSN 1040 Tuesday, cautioned that the team may not be shopping Matthias in the same manner as they are Kassian, he believes Benning would absolutely include him if it were part of a hockey deal.
"From what I was told from talking to a source on another team is that the Canucks are looking to make a hockey deal, the jargon that we use these days. Trading a player for a player, or that type of deal. And if that's what it takes in that type of deal, then I think given that his deal is up, then I think they would throw him in there," said LeBrun, per NicholsOnHockey.com.
Losing a strong, lower-tier player like Matthias would hurt, but if it means adding a top-6 forward or defensive depth that would move Alex Biega or Adam Clendening back to the press box, it could very well be worth it for a Canucks team with their sights set squarely on the playoffs.
