Looming Tyler Myers trade a blow to rebuilding Canucks

VANCOUVER — A crew that has been tearing on the seams for 2 seasons is making an attempt to trade a glue man.

Revered senior defenceman Tyler Myers, a part of the Vancouver Canucks’ management group and one of the vital widespread gamers amongst teammates, sat out Wednesday’s loss in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets after administration reportedly introduced him with a trade proposal that requires the 36-year-old to waive his no-movement clause.

As an additional skater, Myers participated in Vancouver’s pre-game warmup at Rogers Enviornment, doubtlessly his remaining time in a Canucks jersey after he returned to his “dwelling” province as a free agent in 2019.

Canucks normal supervisor Patrik Allvin, who’s on a scouting journey, introduced about three hours earlier than Wednesday’s sport that Myers wouldn’t play due to “roster administration.” The crew made no trade bulletins, though gamers and coach Adam Foote had been requested concerning the scenario after Vancouver misplaced 3-2 in extra time on Cole Perfetti’s aim 1:37 into three-on-three.

Most of them sounded resigned to Myers leaving.

“He’s such a huge voice within the room,” winger Brock Boeser, one other long-serving Canuck, advised Sportsnet. “He’s a huge chief and dropping him will suck. He’s such a good man, a nice man for the younger guys and everybody across the rink. Personally, I believe he deserves the prospect to go win a Cup and simply hope he chooses the precise crew.

“We all know what’s going to occur; it’s the place we’re in. They’re going to transfer guys and get what they will. So, yeah, it sucks nevertheless it’s a part of the enterprise.”

With the countdown to the Nationwide Hockey League’s March 6 trade deadline ticking louder by the day, Canucks populate varied media trade boards like Norwegians populate medal podiums on the Winter Olympics.

And but, Myers’ identify has been uncommon on these trade lists — not as a result of the veteran isn’t a fascinating pickup for groups with Stanley Cup ambitions, however as a result of there didn’t appear a lot probability that the transplanted British Columbian would agree to a transfer. 

The 36-year-old, who was born in Houston however grew up in Calgary, has made Kelowna his dwelling since he gained the Calder Trophy with the Buffalo Sabres in 2010. Myers and his spouse, Michela, have three youngsters and the eldest, Tristan, has cerebral palsy. Myers has spoken publicly about his household.

The household is settled in B.C. and has assist for Tristan.

The truth that Myers didn’t simply say no to no matter Canucks administration introduced him is probably going indicative of its potential enchantment to a participant whose 18-year profession in Buffalo, Winnipeg and Vancouver has been performed with out a Stanley Cup Remaining look.

Whereas Myers’ no-movement clause offers him a veto now, his trade safety diminishes to a 12-team no-go listing on July 1 for the ultimate season of his three-year contract. Whether or not he needs to be traded or not — and Myers has stated he’d like to keep — the defenceman is empowered to management his vacation spot now than he will likely be this summer time or subsequent season.

His departure would definitely be a blow to teammates and, particularly, the younger defencemen on the crew he willingly mentors. Myers is ceaselessly the veteran participant Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson (Junior) and Zeev Buium method for recommendation or assist.

“I’m so new to this I don’t know the way any of this works, however I like him,” Buium, the 20-year-old rookie, stated after the sport. “He’s been wonderful to me because the first day I obtained right here, texting me, making me really feel comfy. And little issues on the ice, programs, getting to know me, speaks volumes to who he’s as a individual and a participant. You may’t simply play 1,100 video games on this league, so he’s been superior. Superior to sit by him (within the locker room) and simply decide his mind and hang around with him. Everybody respects him.”

“If he finally ends up being traded, it would undoubtedly be a lacking piece within the locker room, for positive,” Willander, one other 20-year-old freshman, stated. “It’s not simply the data he supplies, however he’s additionally a nice individual within the locker room, you recognize? On the ice, he helps with stuff and offers me ideas. However I believe he’s a nice individual off the ice, too, and the extra folks you might have like that within the locker room, the higher. So it could undoubtedly be a lacking piece.”

After all, different groups respect these items, too — gamers who deliver worth to a dressing room like they bring about expertise to the ice.

Attrition alone doesn’t clarify why Myers, a free-agent signing by former GM Jim Benning, has turn out to be the third longest-serving Canuck, surviving one main regime change and 4 completely different head coaches.

With out Myers, Vancouver failed twice to maintain one-goal leads in opposition to the Jets, who’ve under-achieved this season not less than as a lot because the Canucks have.

Objectives by Canucks Drew O’Connor and Evander Kane close to the beginning of the primary and second intervals had been offset by objectives from Jets Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi. 

Goalie Nikita Tolopilo, beginning for Vancouver due to Olympic bronze medallist Kevin Lankinen’s late arrival dwelling from Italy, was the principle purpose the Canucks made it to extra time.

However after making huge saves on Connor and Mark Scheifele in OT, Tolopilo couldn’t cease Perfetti’s point-blank shot on the finish of a three-on-two rush enabled by Marco Rossi’s poorly-timed change on the finish of a lengthy shift.

Myers was changed within the lineup by Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Willander logged 19:08 of taking part in time and was on the ice for the extra time winner. In his first sport since struggling a facial fracture Jan. 25, Buium completed with 16:30 of ice time whereas second-year defenceman Pettersson (Junior) logged 19:34. Veteran Canuck blue-liner Filip Hronek led all skaters at 28:53.

Vancouver doesn’t play once more till Saturday in Seattle.

“There’s a couple methods to have a look at it,” coach Adam Foote stated of the scenario. “Clearly, as a coach, you need to have all of the veteran Ds, you need to have all the most effective gamers on the planet. However that is a completely different scenario the place (there may be) improvement and. . . the place this group needs to go. It will get a man like Willander, for instance, extra reps. Get him ready in these conditions sooner to be requested to play in a place that he won’t be prepared to play in proper now. You have a look at our league, guys are requested to be males earlier than their time begins at 18, 19, 20, proper? Simply professional hockey, professional sports activities.”

Foote advised reporters he was conscious Tuesday night time that Myers won’t be accessible to play and was advised Wednesday morning that the defenceman had to come out of the lineup. Foote stated he requested Myers to take the warmup in case one thing occurred to a teammate.

“He is a nice, nice man, a good human as you all know,” Foote stated. “Actually loved teaching him, that is for positive. , yearly it looks like you lose one you want. It is a part of the sport.”

The Canucks traded famous person captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in December, and despatched main goal-scorer Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks in January. 

Fifteen groups despatched professional scouts to Wednesday’s sport.