The Vancouver Canucks have sent defenseman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars, in exchange for a pair of draft picks: a second-rounder in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2029.
Myers, who is 36, has one more season left on his contract at a $3 million cap hit. Vancouver agreed to retain 50% of his salary in the deal, effectively making him a $1.5 million player for the remainder of this season and for 2026-27. It’s important to note that Myers held a full no-move clause for the 2025-26 season, which he waived Wednesday to facilitate the trade; that clause becomes a 12-team modified no-trade clause for 2026-27.
Known as a shutdown right-shot defender, Myers surpassed 20 minutes of ice time per game this season—marking the 16th time in 17 NHL campaigns he’s exceeded that threshold. Over seven seasons and nearly 500 games with Vancouver, he earned the trust of multiple coaches as a steady top-four presence, even if his style occasionally veered toward the chaotic side.
A family man who spends summers in British Columbia, Myers was scratched close to the trade deadline—about ten days out—yet remained with the Canucks for practice and pregame warmups. His absence from the lineup underscored just how impactful his quiet, two-way game can be when weathering tough minutes against top competition.
What Myers brings to Dallas
At 36, Myers isn’t small at 6-foot-7, and he knows how to leverage his length in the defensive zone.
A Calder Trophy winner in 2010, he still packs a physical edge and is typically deployed in a defensive role. While his five-on-five impact has often leaned more toward offense, his game starts with defending the blue line, using his reach to deny break-ins and spark counterattacks for his team. This is why many of his teams have enjoyed higher-quality scoring chances with him on the ice.
To maximize Myers’ value, he needs a structured role that minimizes him having to solve problems with the puck on his stick. He shows real in-zone capability and can be dynamic when driving the action downhill, occasionally backing defenses off with a deceptive backhand shot. However, his decision-making with the puck in his own zone and as a passer can be inconsistent at times.
Implications for the Canucks
Vancouver’s deadline strategy has centered on accumulating meaningful future assets to jump-start a gradual rebuild. The Myers trade fits that objective.
The return isn’t monumental, and the Canucks will use a salary-retention slot for this season and next. Still, the 2027 second-round pick represents solid value for a 36-year-old blueliner who previously carried a full no-move clause.
Earlier, Vancouver traded away their own 2027 second-round pick to shed the Ilya Mikheyev contract in 2024, but with this move they’ve reclaimed a second-round asset in that draft class—now holding picks from San Jose and Dallas for 2027. Coupled with seven picks in the first two rounds across the 2026 and 2027 drafts, Vancouver is building a genuine pool of capital to fuel a future roster overhaul. The 50% salary retention and a 2029 fourth-round pick add extra value in a deal that otherwise shifted a veteran defender’s responsibilities.
Overall, Canucks management completed a complex, multi-dimensional trade after a week-long negotiation involving themselves, Myers, Dallas, and at least one Eastern Conference club. The arrangement yields tangible future value and reflects strategic thinking that could look very different in hindsight if Vancouver hadn’t pursued this path.
Mar 4, 2026
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