For Canucks fans, the pain of missed opportunities seems to be a recurring theme, and this time, it’s courtesy of former GM Jim Benning.
The latest sting comes as Gustav Forsling, once a Canucks prospect, has been ranked 6th on the NHL Network’s Top 20 Defensemen list. This puts him one spot ahead of Boston Bruins star Charlie McAvoy and just four spots behind the Canucks’ very own Norris Trophy winner, Quinn Hughes.
Forsling, now a key player for the Florida Panthers, was instrumental in their recent Stanley Cup run. His rise to prominence is even more remarkable considering he was picked up off waivers by the Panthers a few years ago. Now, he’s edging closer to being part of the Norris Trophy conversation himself.
But for Canucks fans, this success story is bittersweet. Forsling was originally drafted by Vancouver in the 5th round of the 2014 NHL Draft. However, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks shortly after, in exchange for defenseman Adam Clendening. The trade, in hindsight, is a glaring misstep. Clendening played a mere 17 games for the Canucks, tallying just 2 assists before moving on. His NHL career has been modest, with only 90 total games played, and he’s currently playing in the KHL with Kunlun Red Star.
As Forsling’s star continues to rise, Canucks fans are left wondering what could have been, had the young defenseman been given the chance to develop in Vancouver. Instead, they’re faced with yet another reminder of a missed opportunity, and the painful legacy of a trade that never should have happened.
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