Trade Target: Vancouver Canucks Eyeing 6'6 Defenseman for Depth On The Blueline

The towering blueliner, who is the younger brother of Minnesota Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton, has spent most of his professional career in the AHL, but the Canucks' interest could signal a new opportunity.

Since turning pro in the 2018-19 season, Keaton has logged the majority of his ice time in the American Hockey League, developing his game and bringing physicality to the backend.

His NHL experience has been limited-just 9 games total, including 6 this season with the Colorado Avalanche.

On paper, he may seem like a long shot, but Middleton's story has an intriguing parallel.

His brother, Jacob Middleton, was far from an overnight success.

After six long years grinding away in the minors, Jacob finally broke through and became an established, reliable NHL defenseman.

While that doesn't guarantee Keaton will follow the same path, it's proof that some players just need time-and opportunity-to find their stride.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin and his front office are no strangers to uncovering hidden gems.

They've shown a willingness to take calculated chances on under-the-radar players who bring size and grit, particularly on the defensive side.

At 6'6" and 240 pounds, Middleton certainly fits the mold of a physical presence, something that's always valuable in a long and grueling NHL season.

At this point, Middleton's potential addition wouldn't likely shake up Vancouver's top defensive pairings, but it could provide organizational depth and competition.

And who knows? Perhaps the Canucks see some untapped potential in the big defender that's worth exploring.

While it's far too early to tell if Keaton Middleton can carve out a similar path to his older brother, Vancouver's interest shows they're willing to take a shot.