While the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/patersons-point-special-teams-tell-story-abbotsford-canucks-advancing-second-round-ahl-playoffs">Abbotsford Canucks</a> await the start of their second round American Hockey League playoff series and the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> play the waiting game with their head coach, we here at <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/">CanucksArmy</a> need things to write about. So, as usual, we put out the call for questions for our Monday mailbag, and our readers once again came through in the clutch. There were a number of solid questions submitted this week. Unlike both levels of Canucks, we won&#8217;t keep you waiting any longer. Let&#8217;s dive in:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Should the Nuge be an off season target for the Canucks? Especially if Oilers get eliminated early.
&mdash; J-san (@napaJapan) <a href="https://twitter.com/napaJapan/status/1916235914868887896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Yeah, why not? Let the Edmonton Oilers have their pick of any of the Canucks minor league goalies in a straight one for one swap? Sounds like a deal waiting to happen. A local product with three years left at a reasonable $5.125M, the 32-year-old could address some of the Canucks needs up the middle. RNH scored 20 goals this season, but managed just 49 points two years after a career-best 104-point season. He’s versatile and contributes on both special teams. You do wonder how deep the cuts will be if the Oilers flame out in the first round. If the cost of acquisition was reasonable, I’d take a look at trying to pry The Nuge out of the Alberta capital.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Does this season make the mount Rushmore of dysfunctional Canucks seasons?
&mdash; Jim Lahey HNIC (@LaheyHNIC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaheyHNIC/status/1916181929789166002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Yes. Absolutely.
This season.
Any of Mike Keenan’s seasons.
The Torts year.
And the season Bill LaForge lasted 20 games, winning just four of them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Do you think the team tries to move a contract or two simply to maybe give some guys who have seemed to fall down the depth chart to a rebuilding team? Mcward, Bains, Woo come to mind and would they even have late round draft picks value?
&mdash; Chris (@cjwally) <a href="https://twitter.com/cjwally/status/1916177198190628886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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I’m not sure the three you mention would have much value on the trade market. Every team in the league already has those types of players in their systems. Cole McWard and Jett Woo might garner a little more attention simply by virtue of the position they play. Right-shot defencemen are always in demand. However, neither player has played in the NHL this season, and in Woo’s case, he has yet to play an NHL game, as he is set to turn 25 this summer. If <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/loss-going-fuel-us-abbotsford-canucks-mancini-using-latest-loss-motivation-ahead-elimination-game">Abbotsford has a lengthy AHL playoff run</a> and any of those three have a particularly strong playoff, then perhaps that changes the calculus. But that’s a big if at this point. The Canucks may look to move some contracts this summer, but I don’t think they’d be looking for big returns with the names in question.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
What type of Demko extension would you be comfortable with?
&mdash; JB Canucks Podcast (@JbCanucksPod) <a href="https://twitter.com/JbCanucksPod/status/1916180100451864614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Who’d say no to a one-year extension of his current deal? Jim Rutherford said both sides would have to assume risk on a new contract. A one-year extension would give Thatcher Demko a safety net in case next season goes the way the past two have, with serious injuries. However, it wouldn’t lock him into anything long-term in the event he gets back to his Vezina finalist form. He could negotiate a longer-term deal at this time next year. It would also give the Canucks a better sense of how a true tandem would look and feel with Demko sharing the net with Kevin Lankinen and would buy the hockey club a little time before making any kind of long term commitment until Demko can show he is back to his old form.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
What are ur thoughts on Taylor Hall as a fit on this team?
&mdash; joe dhaliwal (@kuvind) <a href="https://twitter.com/kuvind/status/1916178068722618805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Not really buying what you’re selling here. He’ll be 34 in November. He’s on his seventh team as it is. And since his Hart Trophy season of 2017-18 with New Jersey, he’s had one 60-point season. Otherwise, he’s become a depth piece. And it just doesn’t feel like a depth piece the Canucks need at this stage.
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:4antezfhf4q6yzrwd4ungzhg/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnqt27owvk2o" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiffjeqwhaureycwy4jtoa36dijz4tcoomw7j7u3jpud33jg4g7xsq">
Using the last expansion draft rules, who would you protect from our current roster?
&mdash; <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4antezfhf4q6yzrwd4ungzhg?ref_src=embed"> (@slamatimtam.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4antezfhf4q6yzrwd4ungzhg/post/3lnqt27owvk2o?ref_src=embed">2025-04-26T22:48:36.978Z</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As a refresher in both the Vegas and Seattle expansion drafts, all other teams could protect either seven forwards, three defencemen, and a goalie, OR eight skaters and a goalie. All first and second year professionals were exempt from selection. Based on those rules, I’d go with seven forwards: Pettersson, DeBrusk, Garland, Sherwood, Joshua, Höglander and O’Connor. On defence, I’d go with Hughes, Hronek and Marcus Pettersson. And I’d protect Kevin Lankinen in goal. I considered leaving Elias Pettersson exposed to see if an expansion team would want that contract on the books, but elected to protect him. I left Filip Chytil exposed, thinking an expansion team might have reservations about his injury history. And I left Thatcher Demko exposed with one year left on his contract. He’d quite likely be the player selected in this exercise, giving an expansion team a quality netminder in its first year of operation.
<h2>PRESENTED BY WHISTLER GOLF CLUB</h2>
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<div>This article is a presentation of the Arnold Palmer designed Whistler Golf Club.  Spring preparations are underway with opening day on May 9th.  Whistler Golf Club is now accepting online bookings for the entire 2025 season, so no need to wait to get those times locked in.  If you have a group of 12 or more, get those times on hold now as prime times are filling up fast.  For more information, head to <a href="https://www.whistlergolf.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.whistlergolf.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1744132058749000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ap1p40lH7OdVKoTc7zBpV">https://www.whistlergolf.com/</a></div>

While the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/patersons-point-special-teams-tell-story-abbotsford-canucks-advancing-second-round-ahl-playoffs">Abbotsford Canucks</a> await the start of their second round American Hockey League playoff series and the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> play the waiting game with their head coach, we here at <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/">CanucksArmy</a> need things to write about. So, as usual, we put out the call for questions for our Monday mailbag, and our readers once again came through in the clutch. There were a number of solid questions submitted this week. Unlike both levels of Canucks, we won't keep you waiting any longer. Let's dive in:

https://twitter.com/napaJapan/status/1916235914868887896

Yeah, why not? Let the Edmonton Oilers have their pick of any of the Canucks minor league goalies in a straight one for one swap? Sounds like a deal waiting to happen. A local product with three years left at a reasonable $5.125M, the 32-year-old could address some of the Canucks needs up the middle. RNH scored 20 goals this season, but managed just 49 points two years after a career-best 104-point season. He’s versatile and contributes on both special teams. You do wonder how deep the cuts will be if the Oilers flame out in the first round. If the cost of acquisition was reasonable, I’d take a look at trying to pry The Nuge out of the Alberta capital.

https://twitter.com/LaheyHNIC/status/1916181929789166002

Yes. Absolutely.

This season.

Any of Mike Keenan’s seasons.

The Torts year.

And the season Bill LaForge lasted 20 games, winning just four of them.

https://twitter.com/cjwally/status/1916177198190628886

I’m not sure the three you mention would have much value on the trade market. Every team in the league already has those types of players in their systems. Cole McWard and Jett Woo might garner a little more attention simply by virtue of the position they play. Right-shot defencemen are always in demand. However, neither player has played in the NHL this season, and in Woo’s case, he has yet to play an NHL game, as he is set to turn 25 this summer. If <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/loss-going-fuel-us-abbotsford-canucks-mancini-using-latest-loss-motivation-ahead-elimination-game">Abbotsford has a lengthy AHL playoff run</a> and any of those three have a particularly strong playoff, then perhaps that changes the calculus. But that’s a big if at this point. The Canucks may look to move some contracts this summer, but I don’t think they’d be looking for big returns with the names in question.

https://twitter.com/JbCanucksPod/status/1916180100451864614

Who’d say no to a one-year extension of his current deal? Jim Rutherford said both sides would have to assume risk on a new contract. A one-year extension would give Thatcher Demko a safety net in case next season goes the way the past two have, with serious injuries. However, it wouldn’t lock him into anything long-term in the event he gets back to his Vezina finalist form. He could negotiate a longer-term deal at this time next year. It would also give the Canucks a better sense of how a true tandem would look and feel with Demko sharing the net with Kevin Lankinen and would buy the hockey club a little time before making any kind of long term commitment until Demko can show he is back to his old form.

https://twitter.com/kuvind/status/1916178068722618805

Not really buying what you’re selling here. He’ll be 34 in November. He’s on his seventh team as it is. And since his Hart Trophy season of 2017-18 with New Jersey, he’s had one 60-point season. Otherwise, he’s become a depth piece. And it just doesn’t feel like a depth piece the Canucks need at this stage.

https://bsky.app/profile/slamatimtam.bsky.social/post/3lnqt27owvk2o

As a refresher in both the Vegas and Seattle expansion drafts, all other teams could protect either seven forwards, three defencemen, and a goalie, OR eight skaters and a goalie. All first and second year professionals were exempt from selection. Based on those rules, I’d go with seven forwards: Pettersson, DeBrusk, Garland, Sherwood, Joshua, Höglander and O’Connor. On defence, I’d go with Hughes, Hronek and Marcus Pettersson. And I’d protect Kevin Lankinen in goal. I considered leaving Elias Pettersson exposed to see if an expansion team would want that contract on the books, but elected to protect him. I left Filip Chytil exposed, thinking an expansion team might have reservations about his injury history. And I left Thatcher Demko exposed with one year left on his contract. He’d quite likely be the player selected in this exercise, giving an expansion team a quality netminder in its first year of operation.
<h2>PRESENTED BY WHISTLER GOLF CLUB</h2>
<a href="https://www.whistlergolf.com/"><img class="alignnone wp-image-142422 size-large" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/WG_logo_black-1024x564.png" alt="" width="1024" height="564" /></a>
<div>This article is a presentation of the Arnold Palmer designed Whistler Golf Club.  Spring preparations are underway with opening day on May 9th.  Whistler Golf Club is now accepting online bookings for the entire 2025 season, so no need to wait to get those times locked in.  If you have a group of 12 or more, get those times on hold now as prime times are filling up fast.  For more information, head to <a href="https://www.whistlergolf.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.whistlergolf.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1744132058749000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ap1p40lH7OdVKoTc7zBpV">https://www.whistlergolf.com/</a></div>

JPat’s Monday Canucks Mailbag: Could The Nuge be a trade target if the Oilers bow out early?

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