Unlikely playoff push complicates trade deadline for new Canucks front office

The Vancouver Canucks have not made Jim Rutherford's job easy.

The team languished at the bottom of the Pacific Division standings when Rutherford was appointed president of hockey operations in early December. Now the Canucks (30-25-7) sit three points out of a playoff spot, complicating whether Vancouver will be buyers or sellers ahead of Monday's NHL trade deadline.

Head coach Bruce Boudreau said he's offered to help the front office in any way he can, but hasn't been talking to management much.

"I think Jim and (general manager Patrik Allvin) have a really good nose for what this team needs," he said. "I think they like the way things are going. We know we go through a gauntlet after this weekend of teams. But I've come to the conclusion that you can beat anybody on any given night."

J.T. Miller was expected to be Vancouver's biggest trade asset heading into the deadline.

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The versatile 29-year-old forward not only produces, putting up 73 points (24 goals, 49 assists) in 59 games this year, but he comes with a tantalizing deal — a US$5.25 cap hit for this season and next.

Vancouver's unlikely to move Miller before Monday, though. As the team's top scorer and a locker-room leader, he's too crucial to the team's post-season push.

Several Canucks players are still rumoured to be on the trade block, though, including Brock Boeser.

The 25-year-old right-winger has amassed 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 55 games this year and carries a cap hit of $5.875 million. While he's been a fairly consistent contributor in Vancouver, Boeser has yet to crack the 30-goal mark in five NHL seasons.

He's also set to become a restricted free agent this summer and his $7.5-million