Canucks Skate: Playoffs, Flames Trade, FLA Trades, Shark Cash

Not much to report with the scoreboard watching and the playoff chase for the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night other than the Minnesota Wild solidifying their efforts with a 4-2 victory against the visiting Boston Bruins. Second-year star Kirill Kaprizov, the reigning Calder Trophy winner, scored his 31st and 32nd goals of the season.

The Wild hopped to 74 points, tied with the Nashville Predators for third place in the Central Division and for the Western Conference’s 1st wild card position. The Canucks with their 67 points can’t worry themselves with that, they’re more concerned with catching third place in the Pacific Division, the Edmonton Oilers at 70, or the 2nd wild card Vegas Golden Knights at 68.

In the meantime, there’s a game to play tonight …

Let’s Skate ! …

Flames Bolster

Before the Calgary Flames beat the New Jersey Devils last night 6-3, they added Calle Jarnkrok of the Seattle Kraken to their depth chart in their plans for a Stanley Cup run. Flames General Manager Brad Treliving gave up a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in 2023, and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 2022 pick originally belonged to the Florida Panthers.

The versatile, defensively conscious 30-year-old winger who can play centre from Gävle, Sweden visits the Vancouver Canucks with the Flames this Saturday night.

Panthers Swap

You may not have noticed but the Eastern Conference playoff race has been decided for awhile already, barring an absolutely catastrophic collapse by one of the teams involved. Two of the clubs that will be participating in the postseason in 2022 are the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers and the two made a little deal on Wednesday.

Frank Vatrano moved from the Panthers to the Rangers for a 4th-round draft pick. By the way, it’s way more fun to say “Frankie Vatrano” with your favourite mafia movie voice.

Earlier in the day the Panthers added some D-depth by picking up Ben Chiarot and his expiring contract from the non-playoff Montreal Canadiens. Montreal received a first-round pick in 2023, a fourth-round pick in 2022, and the rights to unsigned forward prospect Ty Smilanic in exchange.

Hertl Me Some Cash

The Pacific Division’s San Jose Sharks signed one of their veteran stars on Wednesday, inking Tomas Hertl to an eight-year deal worth more than $64-million. Hertl, a 28-year-old forward from Prague, has scored 25 goals and 23 assists this season in 59 games. He’s tied with Timo Meier for the Sharks lead in goals and is second behind Meier in points.

The Sharks, seven points behind Vancouver in the standings, visit the Canucks on April 9th.

Enjoy the Hockey Action !!