Four Detroit Red Wings who could Help the Vancouver Canucks
By Bob Heyrman
Gustav Nyquist is a veteran Swedish born forward for the Detroit Red Wings. Elias Pettersson is the same nationality. Somewhere the Sedin twins are wishing they stayed around one year longer. I am not sure the Vancouver Canucks fans would agree but they might with all the success minus a Stanley Cup title that eluded the twins.
Nyquist is in the final year of his contract. His four year 19 million dollar deal is set to expire, but he does own one of those frequently gifted Ken Holland “no trade clauses.” Gus will decide if he wants to leave or ride out this season into free agency as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. It is unfortunate that Ken Holland has granted so many of these type of deals over the years, leaving the ball in the players’ court rather than putting the organization first.
The play of his young countryman could entice Gus Nyquist. The Canucks would be able to field a top Swedish line and spread out some of their overflow of young talented skaters onto their second line.
Nyquist and Loui Eriksson could flank young Elias Pettersson and be a force allowing Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser to skate on the second line. Mind you those two players are anything but second line players. Eriksson has been a major flop for the Canucks, but maybe Nyquist could create a bit more space for the aforementioned Eriksson.
Gus Nyquist has shown his playmaking ability often this season with the absence of Henrik Zetterberg. Nyquist was often forced to score more playing alongside Hank because Hank became a pass-first player later in his career. With Hank retired Nyquist seems to be playing a lot more comfortable being the facilitator rather than a sniper. If the Canucks could find a way to make a deal work Gus Nyquist would be a nice fit for them with a potential to resign him in the offseason at a similar cap hit.
Nyquist has 2 goals and 11 assists through his first 15 games of the season. He is also in the midst of a five-game point streak.