Report: Canucks, Schmidt's agent working on trade

Nate Schmidt and the Vancouver Canucks are trying to arrange his departure.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning and Schmidt's agent, Matt Keator, have been collaborating to facilitate a trade for the defenseman, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The team and the player's camp are hoping to find a deal for him before the NHL's free-agency period begins Wednesday, LeBrun adds.

Schmidt, who reportedly has a 10-team no-trade list, is under contract through 2024-25 at a $5.95-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.

The Winnipeg Jets have tried to land the 30-year-old multiple times this offseason, but he's unwilling to waive his no-trade clause for the club, reports the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck. Schmidt also apparently declined to be dealt to the Jets in 2020 when he was with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas traded Schmidt to Vancouver for a third-round pick in October.

The Canucks have about $21 million in cap space, but franchise players Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes both need new contracts, as does recent trade acquisition Conor Garland, among many others on Vancouver's roster. The team absorbed $7.26 million of Oliver Ekman-Larsson's $8.25-million cap hit upon acquiring him from the Arizona Coyotes on Friday.

Schmidt collected five goals and 10 assists while averaging just over 20 minutes of ice time in 54 games for the Canucks this past season.

He played three seasons with the Golden Knights after they selected him in their expansion draft. Schmidt played his first four campaigns with the Washington Capitals, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2013.