After seven seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Tyler Myers is on the move.
The six-foot-seven veteran defenceman was traded to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, sources confirmed to Sportsnet.
Vancouver will receive second- and fourth-round picks in return while retaining half of Myers’ contract.
The 36-year-old is currently in the second season of a three-year, $9-million deal.
In 57 games this season, Myers has one goal and seven assists.
Drafted 12th overall by the Sabres in 2008, Myers has played 1,123 career NHL games for Buffalo, Vancouver and the Winnipeg Jets, recording 403 points (100 goals, 303 assists).
He has been sitting out recent games in anticipation of a move with the Canucks ranked last in the NHL by 10 points and in clear sell mode after the trade of fellow blue-liner Quinn Hughes.
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Myers has a no-move clause as part of his contract, meaning he had to approve any trade.
He chose a Stars team that’s riding a 10-game winning streak and finds itself in the thick of a hotly contested Central Division race, sitting six points away from the first-place Colorado Avalanche and three points clear of the Minnesota Wild in third.
That trio also comprises three of the top four teams in the league standings.
Canucks players said after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets last week that Myers would be missed.
“He’s been a valuable part of this team for a long time, and especially in a tie game like that, he’s a guy you want on the ice,” said winger Drew O’Connor. “And he’s a leader, and he’s vocal so it’s definitely something you notice when he’s not there.”
Head coach Adam Foote said he really enjoyed coaching the big defenceman.
“He’s a great, great guy, good human,” he said.
“You know, every year it seems like you lose one you like. And it’s part of the game. Over the years if you play long enough it’s going to continue to happen. And you know, it’s part of it.”
–With files from The Canadian Press