Insiders list 4 trade candidates on the Canucks roster.

The Vancouver Canucks have been something of a train wreck this season, both on and off the ice, and things really seemed to come to a head over the weekend when Canucks former first round pick Brock Boeser was slated to be a healthy scratch on Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

The decision to make Boeser a scratch on what was clearly an emotional night for both him and his family, just a few short months after his father passed away after a long battle with cancer, clearly didn't sit well with the talented forward who made his feelings known after the game.

“It was a very important game for me and my family, so when I came in this morning and my name wasn’t on the white board it hurt - it hurt bad,” admitted Boeser.

That very same night National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed trade speculation involving Boeser, revealing that his agent, Ben Hankinson of Octagon Player Representation, had been granted permission to speak to other teams about a possible trade.

It seems inevitable that a trade will be forthcoming given the way things have gone thus far this season in Vancouver, but the latest suggests that Boeser may not be the only Canuck that currently finds himself on the trading block. While general manager Patrik Allvin and Canucks president Jim Rutherford may be hesitant to trade away some of the biggest names on the roster, several other key role players may be more expendable in their eyes.

Recently Canucks insiders Rick Dhaliwal and Thomas Drance reported a list of 4 player names that they believe the Canucks would prefer to move out before making any seismic changes to their roster.

From Dhaliwal and Drance:

The club isn’t prepared to move their most valuable trade chips just yet, however, and those players that the club would prefer to move are expensive supporting pieces — the list includes Boeser, in addition to Tyler Myers, Conor Garland and Tanner Pearson.

All of these moves will be easier said than done in the current climate of the NHL with all of the players listed above carrying a significant cap hit:

Pearson has the most affordable deal at a cap hit of $3.25 million but he does have limited trade protection with a 7 team no trade list that will limit Vancouver's options. Pearson has one more year beyond this season on his current deal, but that year does not include any trade protection.

Garland has the second lowest cap hit coming in at $4.95 million but he has 3 more years remaining on his current deal beyond this one. That being said he could prove to be among the easiest players to move on this list given the complete lack of trade protection on his current deal.

Myers carries a pretty big number at $6 million per season with one more year on his deal beyond this current season. Myers also has a modified no trade clause that will allow him to submit a 10 team no trade list, which will severely limit the options available to the Canucks in a potential trade involving the big defenseman.

Last but certainly not least is Boeser himself at a cap hit of $6.65 million with 2 more years on his current deal beyond this season. Like Garland though, Boeser does have no trade protection which could facilitate a potential trade for Allvin and Rutherford. The former first round pick isn't having his best season though, and that would likely hurt the value of any return the Canucks might get in a trade.