It appears the acquisition of Nate Schmidt last year has not worked out for the player or the team.
Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet reports the Canucks are exploring potential trade partners for Schmidt, 29, whose first season in Vancouver was nearly as disappointing for him as it was for his team.
NHL Rumors are Schmidt would like a change of scenery and he feels it would be best for him and his career to be traded.
If the Canucks aren’t going to use Schmidt any higher than third or fourth on the blue-line depth chart and Vancouver can make a good trade that offloads the final four years and $23.8 million of his contract, a divorce makes sense.
If Schmidt is traded and GM Jim Benning can shed more salary and dangle their 9th overall pick as trade bait. Do the Canucks target a top-end defenceman like Seth Jones? Or as a cheaper option do they take a risk on Tony DeAngelo and sign the UFA. He has offensive skill and toughness.
