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NHL Trade: Vancouver Canucks acquire Markus Granlund from Calgary Flames

By Dave Stevenson

Jan 27, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Markus Granlund (60) controls the puck against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Nashville Predators won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Markus Granlund (60) controls the puck against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Nashville Predators won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forward Markus Granlund from the Calgary Flames for prospect Hunter Shinkaruk

The Calgary Flames have started their selling before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 29. Calgary has traded forward Markus Granlund to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward prospect Hunter Shinkaruk.

From NHL.com:

"Granlund, 22, has split the 2015-16 season between the Calgary Flames (4-3-7 in 31 games) and the Stockton Heat (5-4-9 in 12 games). He has appeared in 86 NHL games, registering 28 points (14-14-28) and 24 penalty minutes. The Oulu, Finland native has also collected one assist in three career playoff games."

This is a slightly confusing move for the Canucks, who are seven points out of the second wild card spot as of Feb. 22. Markus Granlund will be a restricted free agent after this season and should give the Canucks some forward depth. However, does having that forward depth really help the Canucks at this point?

The Flames will be getting a nice prospect back in Hunter Shinkaruk. Shinkaruk, a first round pick of the Canucks back in 2013, has 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points this season for the Utica Canucks (Vancouver’s AHL affiliate). Calgary is taking a risk in the undersized forward (5’11”), but it is worth noting that the Flames have utilized Johnny Gaudreau extremely well and he is even more diminutive than Shinkaruk.

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