The Canucks were active on the trade market, but no moves were made

Although the Vancouver Canucks have indicated that they are open to business, it appears that whatever trade they ultimately make will be a slow burn.

And while a number of these intriguing specialists are expected to receive significant interest on the trade market, Friedman said Saturday that no move is likely.

“I was told today, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be fast,” Friedman said Saturday’s headlines on the part Hockey night in Canada. “There’s nothing close in Vancouver…but I think there are some teams that are very interested. Teams like Minnesota, Boston, possibly Philadelphia (and) others.”

Friedman pointed to Kiefer Sherwood as a player in Vancouver that he thought might have generated some immediate interest around the league. Sherwood has gotten off to a hot start with 25 goals in 12 games and is set to hit unrestricted free agency at the end of the season.

But the Canucks seem happy to let the market come to them.

“They’re more comfortable taking their time, just seeing what the market is and waiting if they have to,” Friedman said. “And again, the goal is to get young people.

“Everybody knows they want to be young, and they’re going to wait until they get something they like.”

Friedman added that star defenseman and team captain Quinn Hughes is not among the players willing to discuss moving to Vancouver.

With more than three months remaining until the NHL’s March 6 trade deadline, the Canucks will have plenty of time to get a feel for what’s on the market. And, of course, as teams get closer to a playoff berth in that time, they could end up putting together a big package to land Vancouver’s most valuable pieces.