Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Senators and Canucks Talked Trading Blueliners: Myers for Zaitsev

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated 11/20/22

It’s not exactly clear how far along the two teams actually got, but Elliotte Friedman reports that the Ottawa Senators did talk to the Vancouver Canucks about a trade that would see Tyler Myers join the Senators and Nikita Zaitsev join the Canucks. Friedman was under the impression trade discussions didn’t get very far and Derek of FutureWatch TV is reporting speculation that it was Zaitsev who blocked the trade.

Zaitsev does have a modified 10-team no-trade clause (as does Myers) and Friedman doesn’t believe the trade request reached Myers, suggesting reports of Zaitsev shutting things down might have an element of truth to it. Friedman believes the two teams started talking about the deal in an effort to add another element to the Senators’ blue line, while the Canucks would get some cap relief in the deal. What Vancouver was going to do with Zaitsev’s contract remains unclear.

Friedman noted during Saturday’s 32 Thoughts segment on Hockey Night in Canada, “I don’t know where it stands right now or if it can be revived but it was at some level discussed.”

Zaitsev, 31, is under contract through the end of the 2023–24 season. He’s being paid $4.5 million annually. Zaitsev is already in the minors and has cleared waivers meaning the Canucks would have been able to clear a further $2.6 million in cap without giving up an asset. Myers, 32, is signed until the end of the 2023-24 season at a $6 million cap hit. The Canucks would have been saving $1.5 million per season, assuming there was no salary retained by either side and this was strictly a one-for-one trade.

There are trade rumors surrounding both of these teams. The Senators are reportedly looking to add an upgrade to their struggling defense corps and the Canucks have reportedly made almost every player available in trade with the exception of Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. Speaking of the Senators, Friedman also said that Erik Karlsson has not been approached in San Jose about waiving his no-trade clause for a potential future deal, including to Ottawa where there are rumors the Senators might be interested.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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