Vancouver Canucks trade Jannik Hansen to Sharks

The Vancouver Canucks continued their selling spree on Monday, sending winger Jannik Hansen to the San Jose Sharks for Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional fourth-round pick that becomes a first should the Sharks win the Stanley Cup.

Just a few days ago, the Canucks traded long-time winger Alexander Burrows to the Ottawa Senators for well-regarded prospect Jonathan Dahlen.

Hansen, 30, is a younger version of the Anaheim Ducks’ newly acquired Patrick Eaves: a hard-working, defensively responsible winger who creates scoring chances. He put up 22 goals and 38 points last season playing alongside Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, but hasn’t played nearly as well without them this season. Hansen has just 13 points and six goals in 58 games.

But his talent is still there, or else teams wouldn’t be knocking down Benning’s doors on the eve of the trade deadline. His contract doesn’t expire until next summer, so that added bit of control makes him even more valuable.

In return, the Canucks are getting Goldobin, a 21-year-old prospect who put up 41 points in 46 games for the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. That’s quite the return for a 30-year-old with just 235 NHL points to his name over a 10-year career. Add a conditional fourth-round pick onto that, and hey ... Benning has won another trade.