Drew O’Connor’s Trade Board Ranking Gives Canucks a Deadline Decision

Drew O’Connor’s place on Chris Johnston’s latest trade board gives the Vancouver Canucks another roster decision to weigh as their rebuild continues. Johnston ranked the winger 16th among potential trade candidates for The Athletic, citing O’Connor’s pending unrestricted free agency. The listing signals a name to watch; it doesn’t mean a deal is close or that Vancouver has decided to move him.

The Canucks have lost 10 straight after winning two of their first three games. In the context of a team already in a major rebuild, that skid sharpens the question of which players might fit Vancouver’s plans beyond this season. Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk also appeared on Johnston’s board, but O’Connor’s contract status and role give his case a different shape.

Why O’Connor could draw interest

O’Connor brings the kind of work that can matter to a club looking to strengthen its bottom six. Johnston described him as a power forward suited to that part of the lineup, pointing to his strength, willingness to finish checks and ability to compete for loose pucks. He also noted O’Connor’s penalty-killing work over his NHL career. Those traits can offer value beyond the point total, particularly for teams looking for a versatile forward to handle demanding shifts.

His production gives potential suitors another reason to pay attention. O’Connor has one goal, three points and 20 hits through 13 games this season. That’s a modest start, but his previous year in Vancouver offers a fuller picture: he scored 17 goals and 29 points across 82 games. He also reached at least 10 goals and 25 points in each of the previous three seasons, according to the source article.

That recent record is relevant, but it doesn’t guarantee a particular return. A team assessing O’Connor would have to weigh his role, current output, contract situation and the price Vancouver sets. His ability to contribute physically and on the penalty kill may broaden his appeal, while his bottom-six projection helps define what a buyer might reasonably expect. Johnston’s ranking puts him on the radar; it doesn’t tell us what any club is prepared to offer.

Extension or trade?

For Vancouver, the central choice is whether O’Connor remains part of the group the club wants to keep as it rebuilds. He’s an alternate captain, a sign of the standing he holds within the team. That makes a possible move more than a simple calculation about a pending UFA: the Canucks would also be weighing his leadership and day-to-day role against the chance to bring back assets.

An extension could settle the question early and keep a player the organization values in place. The source article suggests that Vancouver might explore that route before considering a trade. No contract terms or talks are reported, though, so an extension remains a possibility rather than an established plan. O’Connor’s next stretch of play, along with the club’s direction as the deadline approaches, could affect how the decision develops.

If no extension is in place closer to the deadline, Vancouver may have to decide whether keeping O’Connor through the season makes more sense than seeking a return for a player approaching unrestricted free agency. That choice depends on the club’s priorities and the interest other teams show. A trade-board spot creates a point of reference for speculation, but it isn’t confirmation that discussions are underway.

The Canucks have reason to take their time. O’Connor’s previous scoring gives him an offensive contribution to offer, while his physical play and penalty killing can fill practical needs in a supporting role. At the same time, the current three-point start is part of the evaluation, and the team must decide whether his place in its plans justifies a new contract. The clearest takeaway is that Vancouver has a real choice to make: keep an alternate captain whose game fits a useful role, or explore what a contender might pay for that profile.