New Defensemen Emerges As Top Trade Target for Vancouver Canucks

While trade rumors involving the Vancouver Canucks recently have been focused on forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller who was almost traded to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the team is still scouring the market to add a top-four defenseman to the fold.

There's no question that the Vancouver Canucks believe they can compete in down the stretch and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, despite their recent struggles and potentially moving on from J.T. Miller, and in order to do so, they'll need to add a couple pieces.

Since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, the Vancouver Canucks have been linked to numerous defensemen around the National Hockey League and it appears that a new name has entered the mix for Patrik Allvin to consider.

While making an appearance on Sekeres & Price recently, NHL insider Jeff Marek shared that San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman could be a potential target for the Vancouver Canucks

The San Jose Sharks, as expected, are in the mix for a top-three pick once again as they sit dead-last in the Pacific Division and they'll be sellers at the trade deadline in early March.

Walman is expected to be one of those players moved by San Jose Sharks General Manager Mike Grier and he could fetch them a decent package given the way he's played this season.

The 28-year-old blueliner has already set a new career-high in points with 26 (five goals, 21 assists) in just 35 games and would be a solid addition to any contending team's top-four.

Walman, a native of Toronto, Ontario, is under contract for one more year following the 2024-25 season and comes with a cap hit of $3.4 million USD, which is quite managamable for most contending teams, especially considering the salary cap is expected to take a big jump ahead of 2025-26.

This is certainly an option that Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin needs to consider as Walman would give the team's second pairing someone who can move the puck with pace, good with his stick, mobile and will help drive offense from the backend.