Canucks sit out Luke Schenn in advance of trade

Breaking news out of Vancouver that the Vancouver Canucks are going to make defenseman Luke Schenn a healthy scratch for tonight's game against the Nashville Predators. 

This, of course, leads to speculation that the Canucks have a trade in place for Schenn and are protecting their asset (him).

Even more than that, Schenn had been with the Canucks in Nashville but was sent home to Vancouver on a plane.

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.

Now it's important to note that Schenn's wife is due to deliver a baby any day now, but Dhaliwal confirms that Schenn has been withheld from the lineup for trade reasons.

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.