In an attempt to acquire an impact player, the Vancouver Canucks are actively dangling the 10th overall selection in this month’s draft as trade bait.

Holland: Hey, Mike, Kenny here. We’ve got an imapct player we’ll trade for that first-rounder.

Gillis: Kronner? Mule? Flip?

Holland: Actually, we were thinking more along the lines of Sammy. Mike? Hello?

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/11/08 at 09:21 AM ET

You’re NOT being helpful, dammit.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 06/11/08 at 09:46 AM ET

Well I doubt the pick on its own would do it, but if Demitra ends up signing, potentially would want to follow him out west. Then Minny draft Kyle Beach, who turns out after all to be a Sean Avery type. A beautiful day.

Posted by Johan from Cambridge, UK on 06/11/08 at 10:10 AM ET

As much as we all love you, Oh Cherubic One, it’s our job as Wings fans to not be helpful to the Canucks or their fans. 

But, seriously, imagine Sammy on a line with the Sedins. Just picture those rocket blasts of his caroming off the glass behind the net. And don’t forget his prowess on the power play. Hmmm. Okay, I see your point. Never mind.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/11/08 at 10:11 AM ET

Whoops forgot to actually put Gaborik’s name there. You could sense it, I’m guessing.

Posted by Johan from Cambridge, UK on 06/11/08 at 10:12 AM ET

You’re NOT being helpful, dammit. 

Posted by Alanah from British Columbia on 06/11 at 10:46 AM

Okay, just for you, we’ll sweeten the deal...we really hate to do this, but in addition to Sammy, we’ll throw in the rights to a hidden Russian gem...Igor Grigorenko.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/11/08 at 11:01 AM ET

Although Gaborik is rumoured to be possibly maybe contemplating the possibility of a rumour of a move to the Eastern conference so he can play in a more offensive system.  Would he want to go to Vancouver if they have enything close to the philosophy they’ve had the last season or so?

I wouldn’t wish Sammy on the poor Vancouver fan base.  That’s just mean.

Hmmmm.....

Olli Jokinen?  Signed for cheap-ish for the next couple years, durable, might like playing somewhere more hockey-oriented.  Luongo certainly seems to like playing in a hockey market - maybe he can put in a good word for the Canucks.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 11:01 AM ET

Doggone it, Baroque. There you go being all sincere and helpful again! What’s up with that?

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/11/08 at 11:16 AM ET

All joking aside, I actually think Sammy would be a good fit on that Sedin line.  Right handed shot, can cycle, can hold the puck, shoots, goes to the net.  All the Sedins really need is a guy with a bit of touch who can tap in their passes.  I honestly think he’d be a nice fit on that line. 

And while I want to throw my shoe at the TV everytime Sammy does something stupid (like every shift), he does have his moments (like Game 1 or last year’s Game 6 vs SJ). 

I like him as more of a 3rd liner vs. a Top 6 forward.  But, nevertheless, this really isn’t about Sammy, it’s about Vancouver or something...As Wings fans, we just made it about ourselves.  We’re good that way…

Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 06/11/08 at 11:57 AM ET

Doggone it, Baroque. There you go being all sincere and helpful again! What’s up with that?

Now that the stress of the playoffs is over I can think clearly and use periods and stuff again.  No more epic run-on sentences for me! (Unless Filppula gets an insane offer sheet from a team I don’t like, of course...)

I like Jokinen, and just want him to go somewhere he can actually have a chance to make the playoffs - and with a few improvements, the goaltending can make that Vancouver.  He’d fit well on a relatively low-key team, if they insist on getting a different captain he wore the C in Florida, I believe, and that team could use someone durable to balance out the other horrible injuries they’ve had lately.  And Florida never has any money, so they’d go with another draft pick to throw in the mix with their other young prospects and cheap players.  I’d love to see how Jokinen would play with the Canucks.

I see the point about Sammy, though.  He does have his moments, but with everyone telling him to shoot more, I don’t know if the Sedins would be the best match - although they could cycle the other team into exhaustion so they accidentally kick the puck into their own net, so that might be helpful.  He’s not that expensive, though, so maybe Vancouver could go for both of them!

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 12:23 PM ET

Forgot to mention - of course, the first-round pick would go to Florida.  Holland would probably want a fourth and a sixth for Sammy - and then turn them into another Zetterberg and another Kronwall, or something.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 12:24 PM ET

The Canucks’ first-round draft pick is believed to be available, as well as other team assets and players.

Shouldn’t that read ALL assets and players? Hell, let’s chuck Vigneault’s wife in there if the proper deal is tabled. (Is she hot? I have no idea). Screw it, package the player with the hottest wife AND the pick and we just maybe able to climb out of the NW basement. Maybe…

Posted by Mike from nyc on 06/11/08 at 12:47 PM ET

Okay, here’s my reaction to these comments…

Gaborik I’ll pass on (he’s too breakable); Demitra I’ll take (because I’m an optimist); Jokinen I’ll take (but no one as stupid as Keenan is with the Panthers these days, so that’s never gonna happen); Grigorenko? (Ha!).

And as Mike says, we can throw Vigneault’s wife in with a package. Hell, I’ll even throw in Vigneault…

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 06/11/08 at 02:16 PM ET

Officiating conspiracies? Maybe Gallagher was watching the NBA playoffs by mistake (either that, or Bettman’s taking another page from David Stern’s playbook).

Posted by Andrew Bucholtz from Kingston, ON on 06/11/08 at 02:31 PM ET

Gaborik I’ll pass on (he’s too breakable); Demitra I’ll take (because I’m an optimist); Jokinen I’ll take (but no one as stupid as Keenan is with the Panthers these days, so that’s never gonna happen); Grigorenko? (Ha!).

Never underestimate the stupidity of humanity - corporate empires have been built on less!

He is at odds with Martin, so although he won’t be tossed away for the proverbial bag of pucks, if the package can be spun properly, I could see it happening.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 02:40 PM ET

From your mouth to God’s ears, Baroque. I realize Martin and Jokinen don’t get along, and would be thrilled at stealing him away for his salary ballpark.  But geez… I’m a Canucks fan and we are NEVER that lucky! (Well, the Luongo trade maybe, but like I said… I don’t think anyone is quite as dumb as Keenan can be when he’s having a tantrum).

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 06/11/08 at 03:31 PM ET