Halford & Brough in the Morning - Dhali & iMac With Trade Deadline Day Canucks Updates

Episode Date: March 6, 2026

In hour three, Mike & Jason discuss what other moves the Canucks might make ahead of today's Trade Deadline with Donnie & Dhali's Rick Dhaliwal (1:12), plus the boys set up tonight's matchup at the Chicago Blackhawks with Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre (27:59).  This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

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It's time for Rick Dolly Wall It's time for Rick Dolly Wall 8.02 on a Friday, happy Friday Everybody, Halpert Bruff, Sports Night 650 Halperdrop the morning is brought to by Sands and Associates. Do you have payday loan debt? If you do, Sands and Associates can cut your debt by up to 80% with no upfront fees. Visit them today at Sands-Trustee.com.

We are in hour three of the program. Hour three of four. Rick Dallowall is going to join us in just a moment here. Hour three is brought to by Campbell and Pound, real estate appraisers. Trust the expertise of Campbell and Pound. Visit them on the internet at Campbell-Dash pound.com today. We are coming live from the Kintech studio, New Year, New Opportunity for Comfort with Orthotics from Kintech. Our next guest is a presentation of Bassam Motors. He joins us on the ABLE Auctions hotline.

Rick Dollywell joins us now on the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. What up, Rick? Gentlemen, how is it going? Good. Let's start with the Conard Garland trade. What do you got for us? Well, no-Kinnock veteran this week got the interest that Garland got. Obviously, the no-trade protection helps.

Last 24 hours, Columbus, Vancouver talks increase. Columbus, Washington, Boston, right there pushing to the end. there were four series teams at the end, I believe. Other teams like Minnesota liked them, but they didn't have the cap space. Some say the Canucks asked for Port Moody native Kent Johnson, but there's no way that they were getting him. That's wishful thinking. As many as eight teams in on Garland yesterday, I said a couple of days ago the Canucks were not going to get a first rounder. I did wonder about two seconds, but they ended up with a second and a third.

Those complaining about the return need to understand. Six times six contracts don't move at the deadline. Columbus did Vancouver a massive favor. Canucks didn't retain. They didn't take a contract back. Columbus has got a player who's now got a no move for three years. Most playoff teams don't do this deal. The guy's got seven goals and 50 games.

Quit complaining about the return. And the Canucks, I think Columbus, did them a huge favor. The Islanders who scouted Vancouver all week, they were poking around Garland and Besser. New York would not do a deal unless Vancouver took a player back of return. Canucks didn't do that with Columbus and they weren't going to do it with New York. Now, I do believe there was a big shift between the Canucks and Garland at the Olympic break. Canucks talked with his Asian, Judd Moldaver.

Garland did not ask for a trade, but feelings were mutual from both sides about moving them. The Canucks went from, we don't want to move Garland, to yes, we'll move them. Moldaver played a big part in this trade. He really did. And I think a lot of of what happened before the Olympic break, the Canucks were saying, we'll listen on Garland, but we don't want to move them. After the Olympic break, we'll move them. I think there was some talks. I think Garland came back from the Olympic break knowing that his time in Vancouver was done. I think he knew he was either going to be done by this Friday or by July 1st. The Canucks have now traded Garland, Sherwood, and Meyer.

all guys who played a leadership role. In the offseason, Garland took it upon himself this year to be a leader. Tough, top losses for this team. They don't have much leadership to begin with, and they just had three guys walk out the door this year that brought that leadership. I have no idea where they're going to find leadership. It's a major, major problem for this hockey club.

Rick, has it felt like since the Quinn Hughes trade, things have shifted multiple times, towards a full rebuild. Like, I'll just take you through it, okay? Quinn Hughes was traded. The Canucks managed to win a few games in a row, and the new guys, especially a guy like Zeeb Bouillon, looked pretty good.

And that's when the, maybe it's a hybrid rebuild. That's when those comments came out. And then they started losing, and they were like, okay, maybe it's not a hybrid rebuild, but maybe we'll, we're still kind of hesitant to trade guys like Connor Garland. because we like Garland and you're going to need players. And then it seemed to shift again to we got to just shed as much salary as we can

and the whole team needs to be remade. Is that an accurate representation of what's happened over the last little while? 100%. You're bang on. Alvin told the team a week ago the veterans are available. He was looking to move two or three of these guys, not just Garland. you know he was looking if you could get deals for Patterson to bross beser like these guys were out there trying to look jason i think management realizes there needs to be a change in the dressing room a culture shift there has to be the problem was for the conucks and we got four hours here i mean i'm not saying none of these guys still can't move the problem for the conox is their players value is sinking fast they're 32nd these veterans are overpaid underperforming it's not a great cause

nomination to move players. Canucks don't want to retain on long-term deals. Look, they had to retain on Myers deal. That's a small one, right? Can you imagine what the retention would look on a Patterson deal? If you've got to retain on Myers, what the hell would it cost to retain on Pedersen? And you only get three slots, too. So if you retain on Pedersen, that's one locked up for a long time. Yeah. Jason, here's the other one for you. If you're the owner of this hockey club and your management team is signing five guys to long-term deals and then asking for them to be moved within nine months to two years, I wouldn't be a very happy owner. I don't, why, why should he retain on these guys signing Pedersen for eight years and then he's got to

re- Is that good business? There's something the owner could do. What? Let him go. Change management? I mean, how much of, how much, I mean, you talk to a lot of people, how much is that talk heating up, is it? I haven't heard much of that. Okay, so we're talking about retention in the players. Well, let's talk about retention with management.

Rutherford's got term. Elvine's got term. Adam Foote's got term. So go ahead and fire all three. Jason, do you want to pay their contracts out too? I'd rather do that if I can bring in someone that I trust more, but I don't know where the trust level is with these guys. Like there's such a thing as throwing good money after bad, right?

and well, the Canucks have done it a lot. It's not good business. Businesses, people don't get into business to pay people not to work for them, you know. But I will say one thing. And let me get this out of the way. Canucks have to be careful. Signing a bunch of guys to long-term deals and then getting rid of them nine months later, that's not going to help you attract players.

Why should an agent say to his client, let's go to Vancouver, sign long-term, and then they're going to trade you in a year, year and a half. look it's not good business they've signed a whack of guys here to six seven eight year deals and then they're trying to get rid of them all you know within two years how many of the players how many of the players are kind of like i wouldn't mind leaving well that that's what that and you nailed it and i think that's what happened during the olympic break i think that de brusks I think the Bessers, I think the Garlands, they talked to their agents and said, hey, you know, the agents may have talked to them and said, hey, like, I'm telling you, Garland didn't ask for a trade,

but I'm also telling you it was mutual, you know, about his departure. I think the Olympic break, the Canucks did something smart. They got to a lot of these Asians said, hey, look, like, where's your headspace at? You know, which way do you want to go? Nobody wants to stick around on the 32nd place team and a rebuild that might take 5, 7, 8, years. Nobody wants to hang around for that. Nobody. Can we circle back on the Kent Johnson thing here for a sec? Did you say that the original ask or maybe one of the asks in exchange for Garland was actually

trying to get Johnson out of there? Someone told me that in common sense, Port Moody Kid. Why wouldn't the Kinex ask for him, right? Well, I'll jump in. I think the one reason they might not ask for them is to get away from the let's take other teams failed prospects and let's just get drafted out of. You sound so hopeful there. Right. Come on, boys. That's it, right? Tell me that.

Tell me that's it, Rick. Take a new path towards the future year, yeah. Well, yeah, he has struggled. He had a semi-decent year last year. As a fourth overall pick, he certainly hasn't, you know, wowed anybody. But, like, he is a centerman, and, like, I don't want to even start getting into the center-age position with the Canucks right now. It's, it's, I don't know how or how they fix this thing for next year. I mean, they're paying $16 million to two centers who are 50-point centers.

you know, I don't know who's coming in next year. They're not big and strong at the center-ease position, right? They don't have any 6-foot-4 centers. You want to know why McCarran at 6-6 went for a second-round pick. Roy in Toronto, 6-4, you know, they got a first. Teams won heavy-set centers. Canucks don't have any heavyset centers. You can wear teams down in the playoffs with heavyset centers.

Connucks right now are not only weak at center, but they don't have any size at center. Yeah, I don't want to make this about Johnson, but the one thing that concerns me now is that they did the coaching change thing. They got rid of Everson, they brought in his own. And he's still getting healthy scratch. To me, that's concerning, right? He's a very talented player,

but I don't think he's the type of player that Canucks need. They just don't. I mean, it's... I'd be shocked if they... I'd be shocked if they didn't ask. It doesn't hurt to ask. You can be shot down right away. You know what?

I didn't think they get a first, for Garland, and I was correct. And I was kind of hoping they'd get the Sherwood deal two seconds. But, you know, okay, let's get on other guys. We had any chats with Danny Millions about Avandercaine? Oh, Danny Millions

and I love Danny Millions. Okay, so Van der Kaine, every single day this week, I have texted Danny millions, and I get the same, including 45 minutes ago, I get the same thing back. Quiet, crickets. Quiet, crickets. It is quite...

They sent the memo three months ago. If they can't trade Kane in three months, how are you going to trade them in the next four hours? Look, one phone call changes everything, and miracles happen, but he's got a $5.1 million cap hit. That doesn't help.

Playoff teams don't have much cap space, and some of the teams that were after Kane have already allocated funds elsewhere. So I don't know. If there was still double retention, I think he would have been moved by now, right? But I think this is going to go down to the wire. but the greatest mystery is why was he brought here in the first place?

It hasn't been a fit from day one. But I just, every day this week, I've just been told it's quiet on Kane. It's a tough thing to do. Now, guys, I don't know which way Teddy Blugher's going to go. I'm not sure. I can't sit here and tell you he's going to be traded or re-signed. There is definitely interest, for sure. Minnesota had interest before they went after and got Michael McCarran.

I don't know which way this way. this one's going to go. People say, oh, you know, the Canucks are going to re-sign them. Well, one of the reasons they do want to resign them is they're weak at center. And, you know, I just told you, they don't have any leaders left in that dressing room. So I, like, I'm not ripping them for trying to resign Bluger. I do understand why they would if they end up doing it. But he doesn't have to resign. He's a free agent.

The Canucks don't want to resign him by today's noon deadline. But if you're Teddy Blugher, do you want to come back? You know, do you? It's up to you. a little bit tidbit on Lucas Reichold. Some teams have called. Hold on a sec, guys. One sec.

I think the Canucks have called up Ty Mueller. So I want to check on there if that's out there yet. But I think Ty Mueller's been called up. That's good for that kid. And he's a centerman. Hold on a sec. Could that say anything about what they might be doing with Blugher or Comps? Yeah.

Or even Ratu? Where's Ratu in this whole conversation? Well, Ratu, there's no faith. There's no faith in Ratu. But anyways, Mueller getting called up, is that because, but anyways, I'll look into that after I get off the air with you guys. Let me get back to Lucas Richol. Some teams have called, but the Canucks are trying to figure out trade Lucas Richael or play him, take a look, see if he's got a future here. Because here's the deal. What have we had leave Vancouver? Sherwood, Hughes, Myers, Garland. A lot of bodies are leaving. So do the Canucks take another look at Reichel?

Give them a look here down the stretch, right? Or do they trade them? But some teams have called on him. But very interesting. I've got to look. I've got to get to double-check. Hold on a sec. I think Amon is on the Canucks roster, too.

Now it's going all over the place. Anyways, I'll look into that after I get off the air. Okay. I'm getting 500 attacks. Left, right and center. Don't get flustered. I think this is a good window into, first of all, what it's like on trade deadline day and just what it's like every day in your brain.

Oh, okay. Which is, yeah, what else you got for us, buddy? I do want to tell you a couple of things. It took Myers seven days to waive as no move because Dallas was his number of choice, number one choice from the get-go. Most players take one to two days to waive a no move. Myers took a week. Some agents and some teams thought that was very interesting. Will that start a trend? Not everybody liked that.

So I'm just telling you, Myers taken seven days. It was very interesting to teams and agents around. Now, the other thing on Myers is when the Kinnock sent out the memo, Myers and Barry, his agent, JP, were not in the move to wave. But circumstances change. Their 30-second rebuild, you talked about, you know, these guys, a lot of veterans talk to their agents. They don't want to stick around. And so I just want you to know,

Myers was not three months ago willing to waive, and neither was JP, but when you plummet to 30 second, it changes things. The other thing I want to mention to you is on Kiefer Sherwood. I told you guys in September he was going to get five times five people laughed to me, not anymore.

He went from one five to five seven. But what I want to tell you, how that deal came about, when the agents got permission from Vancouver to help, up with the trade. The agents told every team in the league, it's going to take $30 million to sign them. Every team in the league knew the price

on Sherwood if you're going to get them. Because Sherwood got a signing bonus and $20 million in the first three years, the agents were okay with not hitting exactly $30 million. The agents also identify San Jose as a good spot for Sherwood. They knew the Sharks had Capspace

young team. If it was a Stanley Cup team, Sherwood might have been on the third, fourth line. They did their research on San Jose. I got a lot of text from agents who were like, hey, that Sherwood contract's going to help my guy. Do you see Bobby McCann in Toronto? Like if Bobby McCann's agent is looking at the Sherwood's deal going, hey, holy, that

looks good to me. Any guy. So Sherwood's career high is 19. Any guy out there with 19 goals or plus is going to use Sherwood's 5.7. Good on that guy. Good on that guy. Nobody worked harder in Vancouver. Nobody did.

He was another leader. You know, the young guys at camp looked up to Sherwood. I don't know, this team, I like one thing, guys, on their to-do list has got to be get leadership. I don't know how they're going to do it, but there's not much left in that room. They moved a lot of leaders. You mentioned J.P. Barry, so I imagine you've been in touch with him during this whole Tyler Myers thing.

He's got another client, doesn't he on the Canucks? Have you had any conversations about that client? He wears number 40. Yeah, what a week for him. And by the way, GP snaps to me all the time when he hears this, when I send him all these rumors from Vancouver about Pedersen. What a week for Patterson. Gets bench last Saturday in Seattle.

The interview in front of the Vancouver Media, Monday was a disaster. The GM calls him out Wednesday. He needs more from Patterson, needs him to be better prepared and push himself more. And he's hopeful he finds it. Why are we at a hoping stage with a 27-year-old? Alvin, you know, why are we hoping? Look, you wonder about Patterson's future. Can they revisit with the Red Wings this summer?

The top centers out there, Robert Thomas, Trocheck, O'Reilly, Codry, they were the top centers. It wasn't Patterson. His play at the Olympics didn't help the Canucks to move him. Like, if you can't move him all week, and I don't have any evidence that they've asked him to waive, what are we down to three and a half hours? they're just going to have to, Jason, hope, and take a real hard look.

I think Pedersen's got to take a real hard look at himself this summer and prepare really well, but I just, I don't know what to say to you. Like, it's a very tough contract to move. Like what teams out there right now, Jason, that's willing to take 11.6 without retention? Name one. I agree with you. I think if the Canucks could get off that contract for nothing, they should do it. Yeah. The fact the teams had interest because so many teams are weak at center, I mean, the Kinnock should be very happy about that.

Very, very happy about that. One thing on DeBrosk, he made those comments Monday that he doesn't want to stick around and then he backed off. Well, let me tell you why I think he kind of backed off because he did ask for trades in Boston as well. Some of the agents I know, hold on a sec. some of the agents I know don't like their players asking for trades publicly. The players in a no-win situation then, the moment you ask for a trade publicly, your enemy number one.

When J.T. Miller, whether he asked for a trade or not, his agent did a good job of denying that publicly. DeBrusk is not an easy contract to move. He's underperforming a lot of term on his deal. The cap, it's okay, I guess. The cap-it's okay. I feel like that shouldn't be an impossible contract. to move.

He's got a good center. Yeah, but if he wants, if he's motivated to move, then he's going to be a little, you know, he's going to have to be a little more open to considering multiple teams. I feel like with a good, with a good centerman and a good power play, you could do worse than for his cap head.

Yeah. Yeah, I, absolutely. Yeah, I do. But here's the problem with him. He asked for trades in Boston. And if he comes out looking like he's asking for trades in Vancouver, it's not a good look. It's very interesting that he made the comments and then he kind of backed off because agents generally don't like their players asking for trades. Like it's not a good look in any fashion.

It was also curious that he made sure to make himself available and made sure to clarify his remarks. like it was something that he proactively addressed, and he was probably like, well, I'm never talking to Ben Kuzma again. Well, we know what they think of the media sometimes. Talking about trades, I want to get this in because I think it's important to talk about Avis for players as well. JetWu did not ask for a trade. He never got one NHL game with the Canucks in eight years.

He was looking for an opportunity to get a chance in the NHL. If there wasn't a path from in Vancouver, he was open to being moved. Most people in Abbotsford saw this move coming. He got called up by the Canucks. Remember that one road trip and it was in Chicago? But he didn't play. His parents were ready to take a flight, ready. They had the flight ready to go from Winnipeg to Chicago at 4 o'clock to see their kid play.

Never got the call to play. Look, you can't, if the Canucks haven't given that kid a look in eight years, do you want to stick around another two years? No, good luck to him. Go try somewhere else. Yeah. I hope he gets a game. And here's another one for you. The Canucks are in 32nd place.

If you can't get Jet Wu a game when you're in 30 second, when the hell are you going to get Jet Woo a game? Yeah. Rick, I want to ask you about one last question. Drew O'Connor. He's one of the few Canucks that you could say is in some semblance of form.

He's a big dude. He can move. He's got one year left on a reasonable cat pick contract, two and a half million. What have you heard about the interest in him and the Canucks' willingness to move him? Yeah, but there's another guy with trade protection, right? Why, I hate to say this. But they hand out trade protection like candy at Halloween.

But, yes, there's interest in him. And why not? Big body can skate. I love when he's in on the Forchack. He's one of very few Canucks that foreshacks the way he does. I love the player. But, Jason, at what point are weeks they get rid of so many forwards, here in Vancouver to the point what are you left with.

Yeah, they need more picks though, man. They need more picks. We went through all the first round picks that the Blackhawks have had over the last four years. I mean, look at the Blackhawks trade history over the last five years and then compare

it to the Canucks. The Canucks have all these, like they don't have many first round picks and a few of them look like they're not going to hit. Like, I don't know if Lecker-Mackie's going to be a player? Well, Lecermackie, I'm starting to worry, but he's going to turn 22. Don't be, look, he's got to find a coach that actually, you know, gives him a chance, and shows confidence in him. Every time that kid gets called up, whether it was Tawket or foot, he's on the first line for a week,

then on the fourth line, then back to Abby, right? He's got the fight. Is that the coach's fault, or is that the player? No, no, and Holglander's been the same. You know, he's got one, but they got, and this is a very, you talk about this offseason and finding leadership, that's one. The other thing is, we now know they got 10 picks in the first two rounds in the next few years. You better, with the influx of kids coming, you better have a coach who can develop kids, you better have a development team that can develop kids.

Because if you're going to have 10 picks in the first two rounds, coming to Vancouver in the next three years, you better have a coach that can develop these kids because if they start going backwards, because they lose confidence and they're not getting played, it is vital to have a coach and a rebuild that is patient with kids. It is vital to have a development team, and they do have a good one with the Siddine twins. Like I do get this a lot from agents.

They love the fact that these two Hall of Famers can talk to young kids. You know, the twins and Coots keep in touch quite a bit. They keep an eye on Coots quite a bit. Like one of them went to Saskatoon a few weeks ago. They used to go to Seattle. I do like the twins with an influxy young kids coming. Your development team better be good. And your coaching staff better have the time of day for kids.

Because if you're going to be bringing in, you know, Stenberg or McKenna or these guys, you've got to be patient with them. Rick, thanks for doing this, but I've got to mention that Rick is, of course, a presentation of Basant Motors. And if I'm not mistaken, was Garland, not a Basant guy? No, he's got, stop telling you. their Bessont's losing guys left, right and center. Hold on a sec.

I just heard of another car deal. I've had 500 texts in the last. Who's the defenseman? What's his name? Eli Spanerson's got a car deal for next year. They haven't picked the car sales lot yet, but I'm just telling you I was tipped off last night. But anyways, the Bassant curse continues with Garland.

Rick, you're the best. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. See you, buddy. Adios. Rick Dollywell here. As mentioned, a presentation of Basan Motors. It's spring cleaning season at Basan Motors. Get special low interest rates from 4.99% plus instant auto loan approvals and more.

What's the more? Well, visit them at Basan Motors.com to find out. Still not even close to the end of the show yet. Ian McIntyre is going to join us on the other side of the break. And then the 9 o'clock hour, we're here live in studio. That's right. Halford in Brough till 10 a.m. Don't go anywhere.

Keep it on the dial. You're listening to the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. It's Canucks Central on SportsNet 650. From exclusive interviews to insider scoops and post-game breakdowns, we've got it all. Tune in weekdays 4 to 6 p.m. on radio and on demand through your favorite podcast app. 333 on a Friday. Happy Friday, everybody, Halford Brough, SportsNet 650. If you're just turning into the Halford & Brough show and you're excited,

expecting what we learn music or final farewell to the week. The usual ask us anything Friday is. It's a different kind of show today. We're going until 10 o'clock this morning, Jason. Four hours. What kind of people work four hours in a single day? Seems crazy. Consecutively, all the hours, no breaks?

Like the construction guys, they work like two hours, right? It couldn't possibly. I mean, and you don't work in the rain, right? Like, if it rains, it's like baseball. There's rainout. That's as far as I understand it. I'm filing a grievance. Yeah.

Like, what is this? Instruction, I mean, they don't work. They have rainouts, right? They just send everyone home and with hot chocolate. Like, for example, A-Dog wasn't able to do the full pull. He's leaving in about 15 minutes. Understandable. Yeah.

Understandable. No, I'm leaving next time. He's got a nap to get to. Yeah, yeah. No, no. He's going right to sleep. Totally. Yeah, this is really affecting my sleep schedule.

All right. We got a lot of business to attend to because we are here for another 90 minutes. Ian McIntyre is going to join us in just a moment here. Before we get to Ian, need to do a couple things. One, I need to remind you that this show is brought to by Sands and Associates. You're getting collection calls if you are. Sands and Associates could cut your debt by up to 80% and stop those calls. Visit them today at sands dash trustee.com.

Ian McIntyre is a presentation of yard at a time concrete, the creamiest concrete. I love a creamy concrete. Yeah. Do you guys have any of that creamy concrete? No, no, creamy. Is that it? Premium. That's the read.

There's nothing else to it? I'd do one after. Oh, I see. I see. Okay. Let's go to... I was trying to throw to you to be like, bring him on the show now.

Bring on noted concrete enthusiast and Kinnock's reporter Ian McIntyre here on the Halpert & Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Morning, Ian. How are you? Oh, that talk of creamy concrete makes me want to redo the slab on my patio. But that would be. involve work. And I'm as adverse to outdoor work

as I'm sure you guys are. Yeah. And also not so much averse, just completely incapable, I would say. There's two parts of the equation here. Yeah. Okay. Well, I'm both. I'm both. I'm at.

What is this what is this Garland trade, the Myers trade? What does it tell you about the next little while, maybe the next few years for the Vancouver Canucks? Well, they're clearly all in on the rebuild. Like, you know, we've seen this like in increments. And obviously when the Hughes trade happened, that was the game changer.

Like that was that was the shift. That was the pivot. But when you take a step back and look at it in totality, which is a word that I remember Mike Gillis love to use in totality, it's remarkable how much things have changed for the organization. And the Garland trade is just, it's like the exclamation point of here, here is where we are going. That they traded a guy who's been, you know, pretty much a terrific player for them. A guy who can drive his own line, you know, give you a third line, no matter who he's playing with.

And now he's, he's gone for a second round pick and a third round pick. But as, as, you know, we can talk about that. I mean, a lot of it was simply that the Canucks could do this because they're so encumbered with trade restrictions and term on other players that at least they didn't have the trade restrictions on Connor. So this was a move they were able to do. They didn't have to go back and forth for weeks with his agent or put proposals in front of him and wait to agree. They just made the best deal that they could. and it feels like a modest return. But I think the Canucks had done pretty well on the other three trades,

including the one this week on Myers. So whether it's a modest return or not, they're out from under $36 million the next six years, and they're full steam now into a rebuild. Do they have any choice but to be committed to this rebuild? No, no. Not any longer, but it's still. It's still sort of a stark reminder that these are the deals now that we'll be looking at where good players go and you're just getting a couple or one draft pick back and it may not be as high.

The picks may not be as high as you would like. But as I said before, and I'm not taking credit for the line because it was another reporter said this to me about the Canucks. Eventually, you don't get to choose the direction. The direction chooses you. And the direction chose the Canucks earlier this season, probably even before they made the Hughes trade. The direction had chosen the Canucks. They were so poor and disappointing. And all you had to do was look at the makeup of the roster, the ages of their players, and where this was going.

And the rebuild direction chose them. And to their credit, I would say they haven't fought that. They've sort of acknowledged from Jim Rutherford down. They've acknowledged they've no choice but to do this now. And I would say they've had a pretty good start. This rebuild stuff is all new to us in this market. But it seems, you know, they've accumulated, what, seven draft picks from the four trades they've made. They've got two in each of the second round for the next three years.

And, you know, they're well on their way. I will say this, like, and it was, you know, I talked to someone from, well, I talked to Patrick Alvin this morning about the garland trade. But I've talked to a couple other people as well because for me, and I don't know if fans are like this, but for me when I see a 20, you're getting a 2028 pick, it's like, well, okay, I'll write that on my calendar and someday, you know, maybe get more excited about that. but from the Canucks perspective, they feel like they're building in flexibility here, that they don't want all their picks in 2026. They don't want 13 guys from this draft. They want to have draft capital for the next couple. Not just for the rebuild and bringing players on sort of in bringing players into their system

more evenly than one huge clump. but it also gives them flexibility that if the team is good in two years, which good being, let's say, competitive. I don't mean good winning anything. But let's say in two years, they look like they might be a playoff team again. They've got these young players who are developing and have gotten better from where they are today. Now they have flexibility in 2028. Maybe they don't use that pick.

I'm like what you're explaining right now is what, a lot of people are worried about. Like I know this is not you saying it, but this is what people are worried about. That the first sign of, oh, we might have something, they will go back to their old ways and start mortgaging the future.

Is that a fair worry to have? I think I understand it for sure. But, you know, the rebuild, whether it's built the way that you want it to be done, Jason, or whether I want it to be done, you know,

the conducts are, have an idea of how they're going to do this. And part of that idea is that they're going to have draft picks in the future so that they have a choice on what they want to, what they want to do with them. So, and, you know, Morgan's future, I think you have to be careful about what that encompasses.

You know, if you're trading a pick that you got from somebody else, and you've still got your own pick. I don't know that that's necessarily mortgaging in the future, but I do understand the concern that you accumulate these picks and then you trade them because a lot of people still are upset that in the earlier big trades before the Knecks were rebuilding, that they traded the first round pick they got from the Rangers. They traded the first round pick they got from the Islanders.

And one of those trades worked out well, and one of them so far, not so much. So I understand the concern. but this is the way the Canucks are going to do it. We're speaking to SportsNets, Ian McIntyre here on the Halford & Brough Show on SportsNet 650. Ian, you mentioned that you spoke with Patrick Alvin this morning. We haven't really heard much, if anything, because of the time that the trade happened last night, still early this morning and the team is in Chicago.

So what did Patrick Alvin have to say about the Conor Garland trade? Well, he said, you know, there was nothing shocking about it. I think my story is up on, I hope it's up by now on Sportsnet.ca. but, you know, tough to trade a player that has been in the organization for a while and been a good player, but this is where they are. The landscape had changed and that they need, they're in a rebuild and they need these draft picks. And he did say, yes, the fact that there wasn't any trade encumbrances on Garland was a factor in. this as well.

And, you know, again, if you look at, if you look at, say, what happened with Pareco in St. Louis, it's, you know, those deals are tough. And I think that the Canucks may find a way to trade another veteran or two, but it's probably going to have to be in the off-season because it's going to take time when guys have a no move. You have to deal with their agents. you have to keep them in the loop.

There has to be a lot of preparation that goes into it so that you're not just presenting a guy cold with an offer and saying, here, we need a decision on this in the next hour because most times those guys are just going to say no. So I think it's possible that this is the last real significant deal we're going to see today, the Garland one from the Canucks, I guess last night. So the last significant trade before this deadline,

they're still obviously hoping to get something rather than nothing for for bluger and cane. I think there's been maybe a little more interest in Bluger than there has been in Kane, but it's been a strange, you know, it's kind of a strange deadline because these guys would have been no-brainers in past years that somebody would have picked these guys up by now

just for depth, for playoff runs, given what they are. I think, I also think that there's a chance, you know, with Bluger, Whether he's traded or not, the organization does like him, but they also realize they're not in a position to turn down assets right now for expiring players. So I wouldn't write off the possibility that Bluger ends up back with the Canucks. But if they can get anything for him today, I think he'll be gone.

Same with Kane. Hi, Mack. How much thought have you put into the future of the Canucks management? and we all know the Jim Rutherford story who was brought here and certainly didn't expect he'd be in this position at this stage of his tenure. He's not a young man anymore and this rebuild could take a few years. Just some of the thoughts maybe that go through your mind when you think about charting a path for this rebuild and who is going to ultimately be the architect of it. Yeah, well obviously when things have gone as badly as they have, you naturally think of, you think of regime change.

But the way I answer that question is that if there was going to be different people in charge for next season, I'm not sure that they'd have been given the freedom to make all the trades that they have so far in this season. Like it doesn't, especially in December. And things have changed even from December. I think in December, when the Hughes trade was made, and there was the huge bump and the team won four games. Like had that continued, and I don't mean winning out for the rest of the year, but had the team gotten more competitive, and let's say they were whatever,

four points out of a playoff spot right now, I'm not sure that there would be the same embrace that management has had for this rebuild. But there's a clarity in what they're doing, and if ownership didn't think these were the guys to do it, and let's just say Rutherford, because I think the general manager position will be reviewed after this year. I think as long as Rutherford's in charge, I know the coaches will be reviewed after this year.

So it wouldn't surprise me if there are some changes. But if there was going to be a change at the top, I'm not sure that we'd have seen what we'd have seen the last three months. It does feel like a few things have shown. shifted even since the Hughes trade. And I know when the trade was made, people were like, well, this management group made that trade, so they're probably going to be in charge of the rebuild. But, I mean, correct me if I'm wrong.

You know, I just talked to Rick Dollywell, and he kind of agreed with this sentiment that, you know, after the Hughes trade was made, you mentioned that little run where there was kind of like some rejuvenation of the team spirit. I mean, that's a long time ago now, and the team spirit seems pretty low. So I just wonder if, you know, the season is long and all these home losses has been pretty bad. And we just haven't heard anything from ownership. And I'm just, I'm really curious to know what they are thinking. And I'm curious if we'll hear from them at all.

I'm not crossing my fingers for a press conference, but at least one of those letters, maybe a letter. Do you think we get a letter from ownership? I would hope there'd be something because, you know, I've made the point. many times. And this is, the Canucks Nation is such a diverse fan base, right? There's all kinds of components. And maybe it's that way in every

city where people are rabid about hockey. But in all those bases, clearly the most important one to the Canucks are the people who pay money and buy season tickets and come to games. And I would think at the very least,

those people should be informed of what the plan is. I know there are town halls and, you know, they, they talk to their season ticket holders in different, in different forms and in smaller groups. But I think, yeah, I agree with you. I think there could, there should be some, you know, I talked about the clarity of the direction the team is going. I think that clarity should extend to, to, to, uh, the relationship between ownership and, and the fan base. I don't know what ownership is thinking either. It's been a couple of years since I've spoken to. Francesco Aquilini and and I think that I think that would help. I think you know when you when you look back at let's say the Benning era

which was you know mostly a failed era. He did draft he did draft players that should have been the core a core of a contending team but it never materialized because both he and the Rutherford regime failed to build a team around those players but I think the biggest failure of

of that era was a lack of a clear direction and a lack of a clear message about what the organization was trying to accomplish. And I think that's dangerous at any time. I think it's really dangerous in a retail slash entertainment business when your product on the ice, on the stage is struggling like the Canucks have. I think it's really important to try to tell everyone what it is your plan is and why they should have hope. And, you know, don't get drawn into questions about a timeline.

Like, are you going to make the playoffs next year? You're going to make the playoffs in three years? But just offer some clarity about what they're trying to achieve and how they're going to get there, whether it takes, you know, two years or four years. Hopefully it doesn't take longer than that. But, yeah, I agree with you. I think there could be some messaging. I don't think there's ever going to be, well, I was going to say,

there will never be a press conference. There was when Jim Rutherford was re-signed, and on occasion, Francesco has made himself available. But that doesn't happen around the NHL. Like if people in this market think, well, how come the owner can't just do a press conference every year,

twice a year? And, you know, sort of a state of the union, like the president does, well, that just doesn't happen. He doesn't like doing it. And he doesn't like doing it. And nobody does it, Jason.

Nobody does it. Like, tell me, Who does it? Other than if the owner is a general manager, the team, like the Dallas Cowboys have. Yeah. No, I agree with you. Whose owner is out there every day? Because basically what happens in that case is they say things that then contradict or cloud or make more complicated the job for the people that's actually hired. No, I agree with you. But I also think he just doesn't enjoy doing it. And that's fine. Yeah. All right, IMAQ.

enjoy the trade deadline day. Maybe there's another deal for you to write about, but we'll chat again soon. Yeah, I hope so. It'll be disappointing with the UFAs if they don't get something. But I'm guessing they'll get at least one of Bluger or Kane moved and maybe two. But we'll see.

Thanks, Matt. I appreciate it. Yep, have a good one. Ian McIntyre, a presentation of Yard at a time concrete, whether you're a contractor with a large job or a homeowner pouring a driveway. I have to pour my driveway.

Get a free quote now for the creamiest concrete. Visit y-a-a-a-t-t dot-ca. I'm going to move past that. We're going to go right to the trade desk, Greg. We have a trade to announce. We do have a trade to announce. The Minnesota Wild stay busy, having already acquired Bobby Brink earlier this morning.

Here's an even more interesting one because of the family ties. The Wild have acquired Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Folino. Now this is interesting because the Wild currently employ his brother,

Marcus Felino. It has long been a dream of the Falino boys to one day play on the same team. And according to Emily Kaplan of ESPN, Chicago Blackhawks are doing their captain a solid, sending him off to Minnesota. They don't have retention spots left, so they're not retaining anything on this one.

We don't have the full parameters of the deal yet, the return or anything else. All we know is that Nick Folino is on his way to Minnesota to join his brother, Marcus. He's a hilarious guy, by the way. Felino's a funny dude. Even when he plays on the ice. So last year, I took the boy to a game, and we ended up sitting front row. And Falino went after a hit right in front of us and came right at us. I can't remember who the Canuck was,

but he stuck his tongue out before the hit and kind of was like kind of laughing before I was like, there's a guy that enjoys playing hockey. It's kind of funny. Yeah, it's a cool thing for the brothers, right? Yeah, yeah. They couldn't get the Hughes brothers together, but the Felino brothers, they'll get together in Minnesota.

And I'll say this, man. I'm going to be curious to watch the Wild in the playoffs, and I don't think I've ever said that. I know. I don't think I've ever, I don't think I've ever, I don't think I've ever, ever, ever said the Minnesota Wilder interesting. I mean, Garon's going for it. The question is, will he pull the deal, pull the trigger on the trocheque deal? Yeah. That one's still hanging in the balance.

So yes, Greg? So Bedard's the captain in Chicago now, right? Very interesting. They just named him. Very interesting. That's got to be the point. Well, he will be next year. That's got to be the point.

Hey, you know what? Good interjection and insight, Greg. Thank you. A dog. Be more like Greg. Yeah, make good points. The trade desk is brought to you by Beyond. He's seething right now.

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Dot CA. Don't worry. The show is not over. We have one bonus hour of Halford & Brough coming up. We're here until 10 o'clock. And the entire 9 o'clock hour is wide open. What we learns. Ask us anything.

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