An opportunity has opened for the Vancouver Canucks to swing a deal with an Eastern Conference team.

The New York Rangers have stumbled as of late and are looking to shake up their roster, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Rangers and Canucks have been connected in trade rumours multiple times over the last few years. This could finally be the time when a trade gets over the finish line. But do the assets on each side match the other’s wants and needs?

Friedman name-dropped two veterans on the trade block, Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, although he says that the Rangers are open to trading others as well. While the Canucks most likely won’t be interested in Kreider, Trouba is an interesting option who could help shore up the blue line.

The 6-foot-3 right-hand shot defenceman has six assists in 19 games so far this season. He’s an extremely physical player who can chew up minutes and would help solidify an area of weakness for the Pacific Division team.

Of course, Trouba is not a perfect fit for the Canucks. There’s a reason why the Rangers are open to trading their captain and have reportedly been trying to do so since the summer. The blueliner’s penchant for hunting hits sometimes leaves his team exposed defensively and his on-ice metrics have fallen off. The 30-year-old also costs a massive $8 million against the cap until the end of next season.

Trouba forced his way out of Winnipeg in the past and may not be open to playing in another Canadian city. He does have a 15-team no-trade list but it’s not known if the Canucks are on it.

The good news for the Canucks is that the Rangers have a few other interesting trade options on their roster.

K’Andre Miller is a 24-year-old left-handed defenceman who has struggled this season. He scored 43 points two years ago and 30 last year but has just four in 19 games so far this year.

His struggles this season mean the Rangers might be willing to part ways with the 6-foot-5 players. Miller would instantly be one of the Canucks’ most intriguing blueliners and become a significant part of the team’s future plans.

Braden Schneider is another young defenceman who the Canucks could go after. He’s right-handed, so is a slightly better fit than Miller, but is less proven at the NHL level. He has seven points and is +10 across 19 NHL games this year. He’s also just 23-years-old.

But what would the Rangers want in return for any of these players and can the Canucks create a solid package? With a points percentage over .650 this season, the Rangers are firmly in contender status. Thus, they’re not interested in picks or prospects and instead want roster players.

The first name that jumps out is Nils Höglander. The 23-year-old has failed to establish himself as a top-six player so far this season and is spending time on the fourth line. However, he’s still an interesting trade piece as he scored 24 goals last year, has excellent play-driving metrics, and is cost-controlled for the next three years.

The Canucks also have a variety of intriguing young players on the verge of establishing themselves as full-time NHLers. If the Rangers have a liking to Max Sasson, Arshdeep Bains, Aaty Räty, or others, they could be part of a package.

Lastly, the Canucks also have an excess of depth defencemen who could help shore up the Rangers blue line, especially if the latter team moves on from Trouba.

While none of those are blue-chip assets, the Canucks have enough to put together a solid package. With both sides seemingly interested in making a deal in the near future, this could be a strong match to get something done.