Hoglander traded to Predators by Canucks for draft pick
The Vancouver Canucks have traded forward Nils Hoglander to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft. The transaction was announced on Monday, marking the first player trade during Ryan Johnson‘s tenure as Vancouver’s general manager.
Hoglander, a 25-year-old forward, has two seasons remaining on a three-year, $9 million contract, which carries a $3 million average annual value. He signed this contract with the Canucks on October 6, 2024. Chris MacFarland, president of hockey operations and general manager for the Predators, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. MacFarland highlighted Hoglander’s reputation as an experienced winger known for his energetic and relentless style of play, suggesting he could fill a key role in the lineup.
During the most recent season, Hoglander recorded five points, consisting of two goals and three assists, over 38 games. His season began on December 8, following surgery for a lower-body injury that occurred during a preseason game against the Calgary Flames on September 24, 2025.
Hoglander’s Career with Vancouver
Hoglander was originally selected by Vancouver in the second round, 40th overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. Throughout his 331 regular-season games with the Canucks, he accumulated 120 points, with 60 goals and 60 assists. He also contributed two points, one goal and one assist, in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
His 2023-24 campaign saw him achieve career highs in goals with 24, which helped the Canucks secure the Pacific Division title. Despite this performance, he was a healthy scratch during the Stanley Cup playoffs that season. Hoglander’s time in Vancouver saw him play under head coaches, including Travis Green, Bruce Boudreau, and Rick Tocchet.
In a statement, Johnson thanked Hoglander for his contributions to Vancouver and wished him well with his new team. Johnson also emphasized the importance of acquiring another draft pick for the Canucks’ ongoing rebuild efforts and their strategy to accumulate assets.
Predators’ Active Off-Season
The Predators have been notably active in strengthening their roster ahead of the upcoming free agency period. This trade for Hoglander follows several other acquisitions. On June 24, Nashville acquired Jack Drury in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, subsequently signing him to a five-year, $22.5 million contract four days later.
Earlier in June, on June 16, forward Ross Colton was also traded to Nashville from Colorado. This move marked the Predators’ first significant transaction since MacFarland joined the team from the Avalanche on June 2. Additionally, on June 27, forward Adam Edstrom was sent to the Predators by the New York Rangers.
The Predators finished the most recent season with a record of 38-34-10, placing them four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Canucks concluded their season last in the NHL with a 25-49-8 record. Vancouver recently hired Manny Malhotra to replace Adam Foote as coach on June 1 and selected Malhotra’s son, forward Caleb Malhotra, with the third overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Ryan Johnson’s appointment as general manager was part of a broader regime change that also saw Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin become co-presidents of hockey operations.
The 2029 third-round pick acquired by the Canucks originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche.
Source: nhl.com
