Simply put, Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning hasn’t made too many trades that stand out as particularly favourable. The two major ones that have gone in his favour remain the deadline deals of the 2016-17 season that brought in Nikolay Goldobin and Jonathan Dahlen.

Other than those two, there hasn’t been much. Sure, the Markus Granlund-Hunter Shinkaruk trade worked out. And getting Sven Baertschi for a second-rounder wasn’t bad either.

But trades in general for the Canucks aren’t exactly plentiful, and the same goes for those that have worked out for the team since Benning took the job in 2014.

That’s why it was notable when the Canucks received Brendan Leipsic for defenceman Philip Holm from the Vegas Golden Knights at last season’s trade deadline. Leipsic went on to produce for the club, scoring nine points in 14 games and often playing on the top line.

Leipsic also has a familiarity with Canucks coach Travis Green, as the two won a championship together with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks.

But this season was a different story. Despite one or two games where he stood out (a November contest against the Islanders comes to mind), the winger had trouble getting into the Canucks’ crowded lineup on a regular basis. And when he was penciled in, he wasn’t exactly productive.

Overall, he registered five points and a minus-10 rating (third-worst on the team and worst among forwards) in 17 games with the Canucks this season.

So it wasn’t much of a surprise today when it was announced that, in order to make room for the injured Jay Beagle, Leipsic was waived.

It was probably the right call by the Canucks. Sam Gagner—who spent time in the AHL earlier this season—has been effective as a playmaker since returning to the lineup, and no one wanted to see Adam Gaudette sent down again. The rookie was in Utica at the beginning of the year but has played quite well despite a lack of point production. In a season that has started to come off the rails, it's helpful to have Gaudette up with the big club, both for his own development as well as getting fans involved in the youth movement. 

The decision may have come down to Leipsic or Tyler Motte, a bottom-six grinder who had an excellent preseason and has been effective on the penalty kill.

Now the question is whether another team will claim Leipsic.

It wouldn’t be a crazy move, as the energetic forward has proved effective at different times during his career and can play throughout the lineup. (Though it should be noted that part of the reasoning Benning gave for his release was that there wasn’t a top-six role available for him.)

It’s not necessarily likely that another team swoops in and grabs the 24-year-old, but it’s also not out of the question. He’s young, has a very manageable cap hit and can play throughout the lineup. 

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