An update on the Luke Schenn trade from NHL insider Nick Kypreos

Earlier this week the Vancouver Canucks announced that they would make veteran defenesman Luke Schenn a healthy scratch in advance of a trade.

And then... nothing.

We still expect a Schenn trade to go down, but it remains to be seen where he will end up.  The 33 year old Schenn is a pending unrestricted free agent and earns just $850,000. He has three goals and 21 points in 55 games for the Canucks this season, his second campaign with the team.

Schenn has factored into trade rumors for weeks, if not months, now but along the line he has expressed his own personal interest to remain in Vancouver and to sign a contract extension with the team for next season. It's worth noting that Schenn does not have any trade protection though and that he could be dealt without the team needing his approval.

Today NHL insider Nick Kypreos offered an update on the Schenn situation in his latest column for The Toronto Sun.

From Kypreos:

Despite there being more marquee names available, Canucks defenceman Luke Schenn seems to be the most popular trade target. His remaining $850,000 cap hit is the easiest fit for any contending team out there. The slowdown is Jim Rutherford’s asking price of a second-round pick.

- Luke Schenn

Interesting that Rutherford is holding out for a 2nd round pick. To me that's a very, very, very good return for a depth veteran blueliner on an expiring contract. Then again, if a guy like Vladislav Gavrikov can command multiple 1st round picks, as has been reported, then maybe Schenn is worth a 2nd after all?