The Canucks on Sunday said they were actively trying to trade forward Chris Higgins.

"As part of our transition to a younger team, I can confirm we're exploring trade options for Chris Higgins so we can create more roster space for our younger players to develop," general manager Jim Benning said in a statement.

Tampa Bay forward Jonathan Drouin, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 draft, has requested a trade from the Lightning, according to his agent, Allan Walsh.

After Drouin was sent to the AHL for more playing time on Saturday, Walsh made his trade request public in a statement sent to ESPN.com and other outlets Sunday.