The Predators waived Nick Perbix on Sunday, and The Athletic's Thomas Drance thinks the Canucks should be first in line to grab him.
"Of the names on the waiver wire on Sunday, Perbix feels like the priority player the Canucks should consider," Drance wrote.
The right-shot defenseman is in the final year of a deal carrying a $2,750,000 cap hit.
His first year in Nashville was rough. He managed 13 points and finished minus-14.
He was a positive player in Tampa Bay before that, finishing plus-8 or better in each of his three seasons there.
“The final day of preseason waivers has ultimately proven a bit underwhelming versus my expectations in terms of both volume and quantity. Across the NHL, teams have made the tough choices required - whether it's holding an additional defender on their 23-man roster or being willing to go a week (or more) without a key contributor to buy time with Injured Reserve - to protect some of the top targets we anticipated may shake loose on the waiver wire.
The Vancouver Canucks only waived Nikita Tolopilo on Sunday, somewhat limiting their flexibility to be aggressive on the waiver wire.” - Thomas Drance
The Canucks hold the top waiver priority until November 1, according to CanucksArmy.
So why do the Canucks need him?
Canucks urged to claim Nick Perbix before another team does
Guillaume Brisebois and Victor Mancini currently project as Vancouver's seventh and eighth defensemen, per Drance.
Drance sees him as an asset the Canucks could flip at the trade deadline for real exchange value.
He called Perbix a strong skater who has generally made a positive impact at five-on-five over the past several seasons.
It's the right call. A 6-foot-4 right shot with 299 NHL games costs Vancouver nothing but cap space and a roster spot.
It's like grabbing a spare phone charger for the road. You won't think about it until the day your battery dies.
His best NHL season came in 2023-24, when he put up 24 points in 77 games for the Lightning.
Tampa Bay drafted him 169th overall in 2017, and he spent four seasons at St. Cloud State before turning pro.
He has also played 13 NHL playoff games and suited up for the Americans at the 2022 Olympics.
The Athletic's writer also flagged Canadiens winger Sasha Pastujov and Lightning defenseman Maxim Groshev as players worth a look.
“Groshev is probably the most interesting upside blueliner available on the wire. A versatile defender who made a cameo appearance for the Lightning last season, Groshev has become a reliable AHL defender in Syracuse and has the skating ability, size and overall hockey IQ to develop into an NHL mainstay.
I probably prefer Perbix's more straightforward path to providing exchange value, but if Vancouver wants to roll the dice on a more affordable blue-line addition on the wire, Groshev is worth a look for a team in Vancouver's position.”- Thomas Drance
Pastujov scored and added an assist in Montreal's 4-3 loss in Ottawa on Saturday.
Groshev logged 21:25 in Tampa Bay's shootout win over Florida the same night.
The Canucks' only waiver move Sunday was goalie Nikita Tolopilo.
They open the regular season Tuesday in Edmonton.
With top priority, the Canucks don't have to outbid anybody. They just have to decide they want him.
Vancouver Canucks waiver targets: 3 players on the wire to consider
Should the Canucks claim Nick Perbix off waivers from the Predators?
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