Canucks linked to PERFECT Trade... Insider reveals Major trade update

Conference team just told a 22 year old player go find a new home. Elliot Friedman reported that Capitals gave Ivan Moroshchenko permission to speak to other teams. And here's what he said next. They will trade him, but the return has to be legitimate. They won't just do it for the sake of doing it. One of the teams reportedly lining up is the Vancouver Canucks. So who is this guy and what does he really bring? Where does he even line up for the Canucks? But let's start with why Washington is doing this. And it's not what you expect. He has played three games for the Capitals this season. One goal and 11-0-3 a night of ice time. And that's not because he's bad. Coach Spencer Carberry said, End quote, He's been fantastic this year. Carberry said when the lineup gets healthy, it pushes him out. Which is not his fault. Carberry said when the lineup gets healthy, it pushes him out. Which is no fault of his. So Washington obviously likes this guy, and they speak very highly of him. Why not just send him to the minors? And that's because he's out of waiver exemption. Friedman said they won't put him on waivers because they know he won't clear. Which basically translates to, if Washington sends him down to the AHL, he's not going to clear waivers, and they lose him for nothing. So the only option is to trade him. Now here's where Vancouver comes in. David Pagnotta of the 4th Period reported the Canucks are one of the teams interested. But they are nowhere near alone. The other teams reported that are showing interest are Chicago, Calgary, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. And the price of course matters, and that's where Elliot Friedman gave us a comparable trade. He said it could look like the Chinenkov trade. Pittsburgh paid Columbus Danton Heiman, former Canuck, a 2026 second round pick, and a 2027 third round pick in exchange for Chinenkov. But Chinenkov had 77 points in 204 games before that deal, and Moroshchenko had 14 points in 55, so the price should be lower. The question is how much lower and for who? But let's look at what he's up against, because from the Washington side, this makes a ton of sense. There are 12 forwards ahead of him on the Capitals, Ovi, Tom Wilson, Alex Tuch, and nine more. And it hasn't changed. At Saturday's practice, October 31st, he was an extra again, skating in a group with Frank. In fact, he got into three of those games because Pierre-Luc Dubois was out sick. Now think of what that does to a young 22-year-old coming off a 23-goal season in the AHL just to sit in the press box. And Spencer Carberry said he handled the right way, quote, coachable, working his butt off, doing extra things, being a good teammate. And that tells you something about a player from just not this stat line. Ryan Johnson has made it very clear in this past draft that he loves players with high coachability and people with work ethic. Elliot Freeman said so himself. A week before the permission report, several teams were monitoring him. So Vancouver isn't chasing a rumor, they're chasing a 22 year old player that other teams are also chasing because he cannot be sent to the minors. But to understand this guy, you need to go back to 2022. He was one of the best young players in the world, captain of Russia's gold medal team at the 2021 Gretzky Cup, with 9 points in 5 games. Then in March 2022, 3 months before the draft, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. He was treated in Germany and back to skating three months later. Washington took him 20th overall that summer. And that started the climb. He left the KHL in 2023, and in 2024, he won the Calder Cup in the AHL. His first NHL goal came on March 7th, 2024. His NHL debut was December 20th, 2023, and his sweater had 14 letters across the back, the longest name in league history. And in the playoffs, he showed up in 2023-24's AHL run, 20 games, 7 goals, and 5 assists. The next spring, 8 games, 3 goals, and 2 assists. In 2024-25, in the AHL, he scored 23 goals and 42 points in 53 games. Across 141 AHL games, he is up to 46 goals and 55 assists. In the NHL, it hasn't clicked yet. 6 goals and 8 assists in 55 games, mostly in a depth role. So what does he do exactly on the ice? The scouting is consistent. He's a power forward. Fast enough to get around defenders, strong enough to go through them, with a heavy shot. His draft report called his shot one of the best in the NHL draft class. Carberry said his first game back this season was about physicality and being on the puck. The one knock is he slowed to react to dangerous plays, but this is something that can be coached, but not fixed overnight. And that fits because the team that gets him had to put him into a prominent role. Heavy, a forechecker with a great shot, this is not a fourth liner. And that's the thing. His 11.03 a night in Washington is a fourth line number. His game is middle six. Some scouts see that exactly. He's a middle six potential and not someone that you hide in the bottom of your lineup. He's not a star, but he's not a passenger. He's a skilled forward. And funny enough, a lot of people compare him to Pod Colton, a former Canuck that fans wish we still had. A forechecker with a heavy shot that wins puck battles. So here's the real question. Where does he fit in Vancouver? Look at the top of the lines. Jake DeBrusk and Jonathan Lekkermaekia are on the first line with Petey. Bill Peddle was placed on injured reserves, and the tracker has him back around November 7th. And he's the right shot that plays the wing. Right now he slots perfectly into the third line with Liam Olgrin, but with a chance to jump up in the lineup, When it's thin. And it's perfect because people say he can play in the top 9. A guy that can play with a skilled center so he can do the dirty work to open up even more room. And the money isn't the issue. Vancouver has about $15.9 million in cap space. And he makes $925k against the cap through 2027-28. And then he's an RFA. The only issue is a roster spot. Because they would have to send someone out. And also think what he'll be competing with. Liam Olgrin. Linus Carlson. Arshdeep Baines, Matt Sasson, depth wingers on contracts from $850k to $2.25 million. So he wouldn't be an overpay against the cap. This is the cheap winger that could step into this lineup, fight for minutes with first round pedigree and someone with a heavy shot. And different people have floated a swap idea. Victor Mancini for him. Washington needs a right shot defenseman, and Mancini has about 11 NHL games left before he needs waivers. Other outlets have other options. Trade a veteran or waive Arshdeep Baines. And this is the Canucks team that is reportedly willing to move veteran players for other young players. This brings a young player under control for two years into an organization that wants to hit a diamond in the rough. So what is he worth to Vancouver? Let's start with the price. Canucks Army says more than a fourth round pick and their own third won't be enough if more than one team bids They'd rather not touch their own second rounders, but they hold three extra ones. Columbus in 2028, San Jose in 2027, and Dallas in 2027. And here's why that matters. Jonathan Lechemacki had 37 goals and 76 points in 94 AHL games over two seasons. It took him time to translate. Moroshenchenko's numbers in the AHL are the real deal. But of course, the NHL is a completely different beast, and moving out a second round pick in the midst of a rebuild would be a big ask for a player they would bank on. There is also the timing. The Hockey News pointed out that an injury in Washington could open up a lineup spot for him, which could slow the Capitals down. But that cuts both ways. If he gets into the Washington lineup and he starts to play well, that just means the price continues to go up. The real test for a trade like this is pretty simple. The Canucks trade for a guy that can immediately play in the middle six, or they end up giving draft capital up for a player that also sits in their press box. And that's a whole bet on its own. Because if you can't beat guys out of this lineup like Jonathan Lechemacki, Carlson, or Liam Olgren, you're trading for a guy that just looks like he fits on paper. And remember the contract too, 925k for two seasons, then a restricted free agent. Vancouver would get two years to find out for the price of a third line winger and the rights after that. So here's the call on things. Would you give up a third round pick or a roster player like Victor Mancini to bring in a former first round pedigree player with a heavy shot? I would stop at the second round pick only because the Canucks have multiple of these and you're not moving out a first in the midst of a rebuild, but it does raise some questions when you're And you're looking at what the potential could be. So I want to know, would you guys make this trade? Put it down in the comments, yes or no. What would be a fair package going the other way? Where would you like to see him in the lineup? And leave your thoughts on everything to do around the Canucks down in the comments. I've been your host, Mark Pye. Take care, Canucks fans, and I'll see you in the next one.