Pass or Fail? Grading Every Canucks Trade of the Rutherford/Allvin Era
Do they get a passing grade?
The heat is turning up on the Vancouver Canucks management group.
This is Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford’s fourth full season in charge, and the Canucks are 28th in the standings by points percentage. It’s not a pretty situation, and it seems destined to get worse when captain Quinn Hughes moves on, an outcome that is feeling more inevitable by the day.
This current regime has been aggressive in making moves and they’re not afraid to swing trades. Since Allvin was hired on January 22, 2022, the Canucks have made 33 trades. That’s a lot of deals.
With the temperature rising on the suits in the Rogers Arena offices, I thought it would be good to look back at every single one of those trades, large or small, and give them a grade to judge this group’s overall body of work.
Canucks shed Travis Hamonic off the books
Canucks acquire: 2022 Round 3 Pick
Senators acquire: Travis Hamonic
Date: March 20, 2022
The Allvin/Rutherford era started with a bang. They entered the trade deadline firmly positioned as sellers. The fact they not only managed to shed Travis Hamonic’s full salary without retention but also got a third-round pick in return was an impressive piece of work.
Grade: A+
Travis Dermott comes to town
Canucks acquire: Travis Dermott
Leafs acquire: 2022 Round 3 Pick
Date: March 20, 2022
The Canucks didn’t hold onto the draft pick acquired in the Hamonic trade for long, flipping it on the same day for Travis Dermott.
Dermott was younger, cheaper, and probably better than Hamonic. While he ended up playing just 28 games for the Canucks as he struggled with injuries, the deal made sense on paper.
That draft pick ended up in the Vegas Golden Knights’ hands and they picked centre Jordan Gustafson. He’s expected to make his professional debut in the AHL this season but is currently injured.
Grade: B-
Canucks sell rental Tyler Motte at the deadline
Canucks acquire: 2023 Round 4 Pick
Rangers acquire: Tyler Motte
Date: March 21, 2022
The Canucks continued to sell off assets by dealing fan-favourite Tyler Motte to the New York Rangers. While Motte was extremely popular in Vancouver, he was on an expiring deal and the Canucks weren’t going anywhere that season. The trade made a lot of sense.
The Canucks selected Ty Mueller with that pick who is playing for Abbotsford right now.
Grade: A-
Disappointing Jason Dickinson moves on
Canucks acquire: Riley Stillman
Blackhawks acquire: Jason Dickinson, 2024 Round 2 Pick
Date: October 7, 2022
Jason Dickinson has been a solid bottom-six centre throughout his career — except during his stop in Vancouver. He never meshed with the Canucks and finished with just 11 points in 62 games during his lone season on the West Coast.
The Canucks ended up paying the expensive cost of a second-round pick to dump Dickinson’s contract. They didn’t even get the full cap relief as they brought in Riley Stillman and his $1.35 million salary.
Dickinson returned to being an effective player for the Blackhawks, even scoring 22 goals in the 2023-24 season.
Should the Canucks have ridden out another season with Dickinson in the lineup? It’s easy to say yes now, and the second-round pick was seen as expensive even at the time. This was not Allvin and Rutherford’s best work.
Grade: C-
Canucks deal prospects for NHL depth
Canucks acquire: Jack Studnicka
Bruins acquire: Michael DiPietro, Jonathan Myrenberger
Date: October 27, 2022
Michael DiPietro was once thought of as a top goaltending prospect for the Canucks. He was the starter for Team Canada at the World Juniors one year and put together an impressive amateur resume.
However, DiPietro’s development stalled, and the Canucks ended up moving him, alongside Jonathan Myrenberg, who seems unlikely to ever play in the NHL, for Jack Studnicka.
Studnicka ended up playing 52 games for the Canucks and was fine as a bottom-six option.
DiPietro has shown positive steps lately, winning the AHL’s goalie of the year award last season. Still, he looks like a long shot to be an impact player at the highest level.
Grade: B
Canucks bring in Ethan Bear
Canucks acquire: Ethan Bear (~18% retained), Lane Pederson
Hurricanes acquire: 2023 Round 5 Pick
Date: October 28, 2022
The Canucks badly needed a right-handed defenceman at this time and got one in Ethan Bear.
Bear ended up meshing well with Quinn Hughes. They played just over 360 minutes together at five-on-five, and the Canucks outshot opponents 189-136 and outscored them 21-13.
Injuries have derailed Bear’s career. He needed surgery after hurting his shoulder while representing Canada and spent last season in the AHL.
Grade: A-
Captain Bo Horvat goes to Long Island
Canucks acquire: Aatu Räty, Anthony Beauvillier, 2023 Round 1 Pick
Islanders acquire: Bo Horvat (25% retained)
Date: January 30, 2023
This is the first major trade made by Allvin and Rutherford.
The Canucks had to pick between Bo Horvat and J.T. Miller and opted to extend the latter. The ramifications of that decision continue to be felt today. The moment that Miller's deal was signed, it signalled Horvat’s time with the club was coming to an end.
The decision to pick Miller over Horvat looked great during the 2023-24 season, but eventually, off-ice issues between Miller and Elias Pettersson reared their ugly head. Today, it’s widely viewed as the wrong choice.
The trade’s grade is not based on that decision but instead on what the Canucks managed to get in return for their captain.
Aatu Räty has finally cracked the big club and projects to be a third-line player. His lack of foot speed limits his upside as a top-six contributor, but his faceoff ability, smarts, and strong shot make him a useful piece.
Anthony Beauvillier was a solid middle-six player for the Canucks but the most valuable asset the Canucks got in this deal by far was the first-round pick but they didn’t hold onto it for long.
Horvat is exactly the type of player the Canucks could use on their roster today.
Grade: C+
Vitali Kravtsov’s Canucks journey begins
Canucks acquire: Vitali Kravtsov
Rangers acquire: William Lockwood, 2026 Round 7 Pick
Date: February 25, 2023
The Canucks took a flyer on former top-10 pick Vitali Kravtsov here. The Russian winger’s time with the Rangers was coming to an end, and the Canucks paid a small price to give him a shot at resurrecting his career.
Lockwood ended up in Florida with the Panthers. He’s a depth forward who brings some speed and forechecking ability to the table.
Kravtsov never turned out, but the idea behind the trade made sense for the Canucks.
Grade: B-
Riley Stillman gets moved for a prospect
Canucks acquire: Josh Bloom
Sabres acquire: Riley Stillman
Date: February 27, 2023
The Canucks continued to sell off roster players for prospects and picks ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. Stillman wasn’t showing much promise and was shipped off to the Buffalo Sabres.
Josh Bloom is playing for Abbotsford now and has one goal in nine games so far this season. While he’s not a surefire future NHLer, getting a young player with upside for Stillman is a win.
Grade: A
Luke Schenn heads to Toronto
Canucks acquire: 2023 Round 3 Pick
Leafs acquire: Luke Schenn
Date: February 28, 2023
Luke Schenn is one of the NHL’s most well-liked players and a great veteran presence, which is exactly why the Maple Leafs wanted him ahead of the 2023 playoffs.
This trade made a ton of sense for both sides and was an easy way for the Canucks to get younger.
The Canucks ended up drafting Sawyer Mynio with that pick. He’s playing heavy minutes in Abbotsford this season as the team deals with injuries and is a promising prospect.
Grade: A+
Management pays up for Filip Hronek
Canucks acquire: Filip Hronek, 2023 Round 4 Pick
Red Wings acquire: 2023 Round 1 Pick (Islanders), 2023 Round 2 Pick
Date: March 1, 2023
Rutherford and Allvin didn’t hold on to the first-round pick acquired in the Horvat trade for long. They flipped it just a couple months later for Filip Hronek, a young right-handed defenceman.
Canucks management took some heat for this trade in the local market. There were many who felt that the team wasn’t good enough to be making “win-now” moves. You could argue the current state of the team has proved them right.
Thankfully for Allvin and Rutherford, Hronek has beaten most people’s expectations. He’s proved to be the perfect partner for Hughes and has helped the team’s captain reach a new level.
That first-round pick ended up in the Detroit Red Wings’ hands and they took defenceman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (ASP). He’s breaking into the NHL this year and has five points in 17 games.
The second-round pick turned into Nashville Predators’ pick, Felix Nilsson. The 20-year-old has eight points in 19 SHL games this year.
Hronek’s development has helped this trade age well. He’s a legitimate top-pair guy and a good fit alongside the team’s best player. While this was a risky move, it seems to have worked out.
Grade: A-
Canucks trade veteran Curtis Lazar for a pick
Canucks acquire: 2024 Round 4 Pick
Devils acquire: Curtis Lazar
Date: March 3, 2023
The Canucks weren’t heading for the playoffs in 2023 and thus continued their sell-off of veteran players. Lazar didn’t mesh all that well in Vancouver, and getting an asset in return was a solid piece of work.
Management ended up moving this pick again later down the line.
Grade: A
Wyatt Kalynuk moves on
Canucks acquire: Future considerations
Rangers acquire: Wyatt Kalynuk
Date: March 3, 2023
Wyatt Kalynuk was given a new opportunity with the Rangers, but is now playing in the KHL.
Grade: Irrelevant
Casey DeSmith is acquired to help in net
Canucks acquire: Casey DeSmith
Canadiens acquire: Tanner Pearson, 2025 Round 3 Pick
Date: September 19, 2023
Tanner Pearson’s time with the Canucks was coming to an end when this deal happened. The team’s training staff had botched his hand injury, turning what should’ve been a normal recovery into a huge saga that saw the winger go through multiple surgeries. Pearson was also facing increased competition on the wings.
This deal helped the veteran, who was a great professional in Vancouver, find a new home and also solidified the Canucks goaltending situation.
DeSmith proved to be a trustworthy backup behind Thatcher Demko and helped the Canucks enjoy one of the best seasons in franchise history.
Grade: B+
Sam Lafferty comes to Vancouver
Canucks acquire: Sam Lafferty
Leafs acquire: 2024 Round 5 Pick
Date: October 8, 2023
The Canucks took advantage of the Leafs’ salary cap space to pry away Sam Lafferty for a mid-round pick.
Lafferty has speed and decent size. He scored 13 goals and 24 points during his lone season with the Canucks, not bad numbers for a bottom-six player.
The Leafs drafted Russian goalie Timofei Obvintsev with the pick they acquired.
Grade: B
Jack Rathbone gets moved to Pittsburgh
Canucks acquire: Ty Glover, Mark Friedman
Penguins acquire: Karel Plasek, Jack Rathbone
Date: October 17, 2023
A lot of Canucks fans had high hopes for Jack Rathbone. He had an incredible story and put together an excellent AHL season when he was 22-years-old.
Unfortunately for Rathbone, he was never able to make the leap to the NHL full-time. He’s still playing in the AHL today.
Mark Friedman gave the Canucks the defensive depth they needed at the time and performed fine as a seventh defenceman during his time with the club.
Grade: A-
Canucks dump Beauvillier’s contract for cap space
Canucks acquire: 2024 Round 5 Pick
Blackhawks acquire: Anthony Beauvillier
Date: November 28, 2023
The Canucks dumped Anthony Beauvillier early on in the 2023-24 season. They were off to a strong start and had plenty of wingers. The chance to get rid of Beauvillier’s salary and reallocate that money to the defence presented itself so the team took it.
The deal made a lot of sense and helped facilitate the Nikita Zadorov move, which worked out well for the Canucks.
Grade: A-
Nikita Zadorov is acquired for a pair of picks
Canucks acquire: Nikita Zadorov
Flames acquire: 2024 Round 5 Pick, 2026 Round 3 Pick
Date: November 30, 2023
Despite a hot start, the Canucks needed some defence help in the early part of the 2023-24 season. Enter Nikita Zadorov, who fit perfectly with his size, snarl, and skating.
Zadorov was a monster on the ice for the Canucks, especially during their playoff run, and was a significant voice off the ice as well. His personality made him a favourite with the fanbase.
The Canucks ended up letting Zadorov walk after this season, but he made a big impact while on the team and the overall price wasn’t too bad.
Grade: A
Depth players are exchanged for each other
Canucks acquire: Nick Cicek, 2024 Round 6 Pick
Sharks acquire: Jack Studnicka
Date: December 15, 2023
Picking up a spare draft pick for Jack Studnicka is not the worst thing. This deal is relatively inconsequential.
Grade: B
Canucks bring in reinforcements for playoff push
Canucks acquire: Elias Lindholm
Flames acquire: Hunter Brzustewicz, Andrei Kuzmenko, Joni Jurmo, 2024 Round 1 Pick, 2024 Round 4 Pick
Date: January 31, 2024
The Canucks were tied with the Boston Bruins atop the NHL standings on January 31st, 2024. Everything seemed to be going right, and they were looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Allvin and Rutherford decided to sell off some future assets to bring in reinforcements and give the Canucks a scary 1-2-3 punch down the middle.
There are not many seasons where everything goes right like what was happening for the Canucks this year. It made sense to give up some future assets to make the best team possible for that spring.
While it took Lindholm some time to fit in, he ended up being a valuable contributor in the playoffs.
The Canucks made a valiant push and took the Edmonton Oilers to Game 7 in the second round, even without starting goalie Thatcher Demko. However, they fell short and Lindholm then walked in free agency as he was expected to do.
The future assets the Canucks gave up will pay dividends for the Flames. But it’s hard to fault Rutherford and Allvin for giving the 2023-24 team every chance to make a run.
Grade: A-
Canucks free up cap space by trading struggling forwards
Canucks acquire: 2027 Round 4 Pick
Blackhawks acquire: Ilya Mikheyev (15% retained), Sam Lafferty, 2027 Round 2 Pick
Date: June 26, 2024
Ilya Mikheyev played through injury in Vancouver and by the end of his tenure with the Canucks, was not an effective player. He struggled mightily in the 2024 playoffs and his $4.75 million salary put a target on his back as a solution to the team’s cap puzzle.
The Canucks ended up giving up Lafferty’s rights and a future second-round pick to dump 85% of Mikheyev’s cap hit.
These types of trades have added up for the Canucks over the years and resulted in a significant draft pick deficit. To make matters worse, Mikheyev then returned to form with the Blackhawks and is back to being a good middle-six winger.
A little bit of patience would’ve gone a long way here. There was a lot of pressure on the Canucks to move Mikheyev but he had suffered a significant injury not that long before his struggles.
Grade: D
Canucks give up on former first-round pick
Canucks acquire: 2025 Round 4 Pick
Oilers acquire: Vasily Podkolzin
Date: August 18, 2024
This trade marked the end of the Vasily Podkolzin era in Vancouver. The Russian winger was a first-round pick who never figured it out.
Podkolzin was traded because the Canucks were getting crowded on the wings. However, the team would’ve been better served by keeping Podkolzin and not bringing in someone like Danton Heinen, who was more expensive and not much better.
While Podkolzin hasn’t developed into anything near what his draft pedigree warranted, he’s a useful player who forechecks hard and brings a physical element.
Grade: C+
Tucker Poolman’s contract is dealt
Canucks acquire: Erik Brannstrom
Avalanche acquire: Tucker Poolman (20% retained), 2025 Round 4 Pick
Date: October 6, 2024
This was a salary cap driven move that helped give the Canucks a lot more cap flexibility. By getting rid of Tucker Poolman’s contract, the Canucks ceased to use LTIR and therefore were allowed to accrue cap space.
Erik Brannstrom also proved to be a solid piece and put forward some good performances. He was eventually used in the J.T. Miller trade.
Grade: B+
Canucks end the Daniel Sprong experiment
Canucks acquire: Future Considerations
Kraken acquire: Daniel Sprong
Date: November 8, 2024
Daniel Sprong’s Canucks tenure was short but eventful. He scored an all-time preseason goal, scored another in the team’s season opener, and then was traded to the Seattle Kraken after nine games.
Sprong is now playing in the KHL, where he’s scoring more than a point-per-game. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets another chance in the NHL.
Grade: Irrelevant
J.T. Miller is traded for non-hockey reasons in blockbuster
Canucks acquire: Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, 2025 1st Round Pick
Rangers acquire: J.T. Miller, Jackson Dorrington, Erik Brannstrom
Date: January 31st, 2025
Rutherford and Allvin decided the only way to solve last season’s drama was to trade one of Pettersson or Miller so that’s what they did on January 31st, 2025.
This Miller deal is one of the defining moments of this Canucks regime. While the context obviously changes things, they still gave up one of their best players for a package that doesn’t have an indivual asset that’s nearly as valuable.
Filip Chytil is an intriguing player who has shown really positive signs every time he’s been healthy for the Canucks. The problem is he can’t stay healthy, something that everyone knew would be a concern when he was part of this trade.
Chytil suffered another concussion earlier this year and there haven’t been a lot of updates on his status. It’s very possible he never plays again.
The Canucks didn’t have much leverage in this situation as everyone knew the situation between Pettersson and Miller had reached a boiling point. Still, the package they got back was nothing special and weakened the team.
The best asset the Canucks got back in this deal was the first-round pick, but in classic Rutherford/Allvin fashion, they wouldn’t keep it for long.
Grade: C+
Canucks quickly flip pick for Marcus Pettersson
Canucks acquire: Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor
Penguins acquire: 2025 1st Round Pick, Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernström
Date: January 31st, 2025
Rutherford and Allvin don’t like holding onto their draft picks. They quickly turned around and dealt the one acquired in the J.T. Miller trade on the same night.
They managed to get Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor for that pick and a collection of other pieces. Both Pettersson and O’Connor were given extensions and have carved out solid roles on the team today.
The Canucks also gave up prospect Melvin Fernstrom who is interesting but has just one goal in 20 SHL games so far this year.
Did the Canucks get better after this trade? Yes. But did it make them a playoff team last year or meaningfully elevate their ceiling? No. Would the Canucks have been better off using that pick, which ended up being 12th overall in last summer’s draft? Probably.
There was pressure to keep the playoff push alive last season and that’s what this trade did. The team still fell short and while they got some solid pieces, they would’ve been better off just being patient and keeping the pick.
Grade: C+
Mark Friedman gets moved for nothing
Canucks acquire: Future Considerations
Predators acquire: Mark Friedman
Date: February 7th, 2025
Mark Friedman was being pushed out by the Canucks youth movement on the blue line, so they moved him to make space.
Grade: Irrelevant
Carson Soucy gets moved at the deadline
Canucks acquire: 2025 Round 3 Pick
Rangers acquire: Carson Soucy
Date: March 6th, 2025
The Canucks smartly decided to sell some assets ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
With several young defencemen starting to push for NHL spots, Carson Soucy became expendable. They traded him to the New York Rangers, where he has already spent some time as a healthy scratch.
Grade: A
Canucks take a risk on local product Evander Kane
Canucks acquire: Evander Kane
Oilers acquire: 2025 Round 4 Pick (Senators)
Date: June 25th, 2025
The Canucks shocked a lot of people by picking up Evander Kane this summer. They took on his entire $5.125 million salary and hoped that it being a contract year would help the Vancouver native play his best.
So far, the Kane experiment has yielded mixed results. It hasn’t been a disaster but the veteran is taking a lot of bad penalties, having too many defensive lapses, and has just nine points in 19 games.
It’s pretty hard to argue against the fact that the Canucks would’ve likely been better off keeping the draft pick and using the salary cap space to re-sign Pius Suter.
Grade: D
Summer deal with Chicago
Canucks acquire: Ilya Safonov
Blackhawks acquire: Future Considerations
Date: June 28th, 2025
I forgot this happened to be honest.
Grade: Irrelevant
Artus Silovs traded for assets before he could go through waivers
Canucks acquire: Chase Stillman, 2027 Round 4 Pick
Penguins acquire: Arturs Silovs
Date: July 13th, 2025
The Canucks had a crowded crease to deal with ahead of this season. With Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen, and Arturs Silovs all in the system, one was going to need to go.
Silovs would’ve needed to go through waivers to be sent to Abbotsford, so the Canucks made sure to get some assets in return instead of likely losing him for nothing down the line.
They didn’t recoup much value, and Silovs is looking very solid for the Penguins.
Grade: C
Dakota Joshua is traded out east
Canucks acquire: 2028 Round 4 Pick
Leafs acquire: Dakota Joshua
Date: July 17th, 2025
Dakota Joshua burst onto the scene in the 2023-24 season, scoring 18 goals and bringing a physical, dynamic element to the Canucks lineup.
Unfortunately, a surprise bout with testicular cancer delayed his start to the 2024-25 season and he struggled to ever get going. His contract looked like an overpayment as a result.
A closer look at his 2023-24 statistics may have predicted his dropoff, even before the health scare. He spent a lot of time playing with Conor Garland who is one of the most underrated play-drivers in the NHL. Without Garland on his other wing, Joshua has struggled to find regular success.
Grade: A-
Canucks get desperatly needed centre help
Canucks acquire: Lukas Reichel
Blackhawks acquire: 2027 Round 4 Pick
Date: October 24th, 2025
The most recent trade made by Allvin and Rutherford brought in some much-needed help down the middle.
Lukas Reichel hasn’t done much as the team’s second-line centre but at least he’s a warm body to put there.
The Canucks needed to make a quick move and didn’t pay a lot to get a player who could still have some untapped upside as a third-line winger in the future.
Grade: B-