It isn’t a trade of headliners, but attentive Canucks fans will be encouraged by their team’s trade of bit players on Wednesday. Back-up goalie Anders Nilsson and Darren Archibald are off to Ottawa, while the Senators are sending Mike McKenna, Tom Pyatt and a sixth-round pick back to the Canucks.
Neither the outbound players nor the return are players of consequence, in the grand scheme of things, but there is one aspect of the trade that the Canucks hope will bring a part of their future into the present. Prized goalie prospect Thatcher Demko is going to get the call-up.
Demko, a second round pick of the Canucks in 2014, has simmered in the AHL for the last two seasons and largely shined, while also turning in a strong performance at the 2015 World Juniors. The Canucks were able to recoup a draft asset from the roster spot occupied by the 28 year old Nilsson while creating an opportunity for Demko.
Between this and the NHL’s announcement of Elias Pettersson as December’s Rookie of the Month, Canucks fans have to be feeling pretty good about the outlook of their team right now.
