Potential trade suitor emerges for Jake Virtanen, talks ongoing

It appears that the Vancouver Canucks have found a potential suitor for Jake Virtanen. According to Thomas Drance of The Athletic, the Canucks have been in discussions with the Anaheim Ducks about the 24-year old winger.

Drance added that nothing is imminent, and that momentum has slowed down a bit from where the talks were earlier on Saturday. The Canucks are reportedly targeting Ducks forward Danton Heinen in return for Virtanen.

Virtanen is off to an extremely slow start to the 2020-21 campaign. In 19 games, the New Westminster, BC native has 1 point (1 G), 26 penalty minutes, and is a -3.

Vancouver seems to want a real return for Virtanen rather than just dumping his salary to free up cap space for the 2021-22 season Drance said. Virtanen is in the first year of a two-year contract worth $5.1 million ($2.55 million AAV).

The Canucks target, Heinen, is in his first full season with Anaheim after being acquired at the trade deadline last season from the Boston Bruins. In 17 games, he's tallied 6 points (3 G, 3 A), 0 penalty minutes, and is a -2.

I do think Heinen was the #Canucks' target in a potential Virtanen deal with Anaheim.

Even if that deal isn't completed, that tells us a lot about this club's priorities.

Canucks aren't going to just dump Virtanen to get off his 2021-22 money, they're looking for a real return.— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) February 27, 2021

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