Report: Byfuglien, Vrbata haven't been asked to list teams they'd accept a trade to
With the Feb. 29 trade deadline drawing closer, two intriguing names on the market from the Western Conference are Dustin Byfuglien and Radim Vrbata.
The Winnipeg Jets defenseman and Vancouver Canucks forward, respectively, are each in the final seasons of their contracts, and both have partial no-trade clauses. And as of Tuesday afternoon, both players have not been asked to provide a list of teams they would be willing to accept a trade to, reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
| Player | G | A | PPP | Salary | Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byfuglien | 9 | 14 | 8 | $6M | $5.2M |
| Vrbata | 10 | 9 | 7 | $5M | $5M |
Byfuglien will turn 31 in late March, and is poised to hit the jackpot should he hit free agency. "I don't think there's any way Byfuglien signs for any less than five years in length," LeBrun writes.
Vrbata will turn 35 in June, and whether the Canucks commit to a rebuild or continue to try to keep the window open as long as the Sedin twins remain otherworldly will play a part in the winger's future. It's been a mostly disappointing season for Vrbata, who's followed up his 31-goal first season in Vancouver by shooting 6.9 percent.
The Jets and Canucks remain in the playoff hunt in the West. Vancouver's a point behind Nashville for the second wild-card spot, while the Jets are four points back. The Canucks are also only four points back of second place in the not-so-competitive Pacific Division.