What trade deadline?
Vancouver and Carolina made a minor deal Monday, the Canucks sending forward Dane Fox to the Hurricanes for future considerations.
Fox has spent the majority of the season in the East Coast Hockey League, with Kalamazoo, where he has a team-leading 26 goals and 50 points, but he's moving on up to the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers.
By trading fox, the #Canucks open up another contract spot. They currently have 44/50 - let the NCAA/CHL hunting begin! (hopefully)
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) March 7, 2016
The 22-year-old was an undrafted free-agent signing of the Canucks in 2013. He's 6-feet tall and weighs 188 pounds. He had 30 goals in his first ECHL season, after scoring 64 goals in 67 games in his final season of junior hockey.
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If NHL games were 40 minutes long, the Vancouver Canucks would be one of the best teams in the league.
Vancouver blew a 2-0 lead Thursday night, and a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes, losing their third straight game, a 3-2 decision to the San Jose Sharks. The Canucks have now lost 11 games when leading after two periods, according to The Province and Canucks Army's Jeff Paterson.
And Vancouver's home struggles continue in a big way:
#Canucks 2-8-1 in last 11 here at Rogers Arena. Visitors now 20-9-3 on the season (43 of 64 possible points)
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 4, 2016
Vancouver's 11 home wins are better than only the Toronto Maple Leafs' nine. Not good. And, once again, the Canucks couldn't muster much offense. They scored two or fewer for the third straight game, and have two goals or fewer in seven of their past nine games. It's bleak:
#Canucks have been held to 2 or fewer goals in 40 of 63 games
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 4, 2016
With 60 points in 63 games, the Canucks are only four points out of the Western Conference basement.
Meanwhile, goaltender Ryan Miller, obviously frustrated with a lack of support, was furious after the game because he believed Sharks forward Tomas Hertl's goal in the second period, which got San Jose on the board, was deflected with a high stick.
"That's 100 per cent a high-stick on their first goal, I just watched the replay. Big game for us and they call that a goal" - Miller
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) March 4, 2016
With the Minnesota Wild picking up two points Thursday in Toronto, the Canucks are now 10 points back in the wild-card race. It's possible, but becoming more unlikely by the day.
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The Dallas Stars' search for a defenseman continues ahead of Monday's trade deadline, and a new name has entered discussions.
One day after it was reported the Stars were interested in Vancouver Canucks blue-liner Dan Hamhuis, TSN's Darren Dreger tweeted Sunday that Dallas "remains focused" on adding either Hamhuis or Kris Russell of the Calgary Flames.
Dreger added that the Stars "have a lot of time for Russell," who has 15 points in 51 games this season. The Flames are hoping to receive a pair of second-round picks in exchange for the 28-year-old.
Hamhuis, meanwhile, reiterated his desire to return to Vancouver if he is moved, telling The Canadian Press on Sunday that he'd like a situation similar to that of Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette.
The center was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of last season's trade deadline, won a Stanley Cup, and returned to Arizona in the offseason.
The Stars have not made a trade since acquiring Patrick Sharp from the Blackhawks last July.
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