Canucks could do some shopping before trade deadline gets much closer
Canucks general manager Mike Gillis may want to kick the tires now on pending restricted free agent Shawn Matthias of Florida.
At 25, the 6-foot-4, 216-pound centre had seven goals through 26 games this season and his pro-rated $900,000 US contract is expiring. Panthers GM Dale Tallon is looking to rebuild, but this might be a tough piece to pry away. Worth a try for a longer fix.
Here’s what’s out there in the UFA market:
Buffalo’s Jochen Hecht, 35, had just two goals through 25 games and was recently a healthy scratch once coach Lindy Ruff was fired. But Hecht has a career 14 goals in 59 playoff games. Pro-rated $3.8 million-US contract expiring.
Marty Reasoner, 36, of the New York Islanders was a healthy scratch for four straight games and hasn’t scored this season in a fourth-line role. Pro-rated $1 million salary expiring.
Nate Thompson, 28, of Tampa had five goals in his first 25 games this season, including two against New Jersey last Wednesday. Good on faceoffs and penalty kill. Pro-rated $850,000 salary expiring.