Vankiller Whale
Fire Benning
Those are steep acquisition costs. And you can't get a player like Hossa at that cap hit any longer anyways so it's not something this team can pursue.
As for the trade route, Eriksson cost Tyler Seguin, Richards cost Schenn and Simmonds and Carter cost a first round pick and Johnson (not a player I like but obviously still marketable to some).
As for Sharp he had 15 career points in 60ish games, then played a season and a half in Chicago before breaking out in a big way. Not really a ready made secondary scorer in the same mould as the rest.
The Canucks don't really have the kinds of assets to make those moves at this point given the context of rebuilding the organization's depth. At the end of one of those rebuilds franchises can often part with a young NHLer with promise and a high draft pick without losing much depth but we are not there.
I don't see what waiting will accomplish though. For every year we wait for prospects to develop and help fill out depth positions the Sedins and Luongo get a year closer to inevitable decline. I think our roster right now is one impact forward away from being a legitimate contender. Even if we make a lesser move, like 2nd + B prospect for Cammalleri or something, it would do a lot to improve our chances without sacrificing much. Even trading a significant package for someone like Vanek at the deadline we will still have plenty of prospect depth. There's no way that we'll be able to fit all of Schroeder, Horvat, Gaunce, Jensen, Shinkaruk, plus whoever we pick in 2014 on our roster in a contributing role, so it makes sense to try and convert some quantity into a quality player that will help address our need for scoring.