Updated: Mar 22
With trade rumours looming around the former 5th overall selection Elias Pettersson, the Canucks will be looking to move Pettersson at the deadline after some recent chemistry issues amongst the team, but here are my top three landing spots for the star centre.
The Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres are probably one of the teams most linked with the Swedish centre in the last month or so, and could be the perfect fit going forward for Pettersson. With the Sabres currently sitting 30th in the standings, and still in a rebuild phase, they have lots of young assets that the Canucks could use, and getting a player such as Pettersson back in a trade could be massive for the rebuild and the future of the Sabres. One key individual who could work in a trade would be Dylan Cozens. Cozens was drafted 7th overall in 2019, and has played consistent hockey for the Sabres since 2020, but with standout seasons in particular, and already hitting his potential, it could be time for the Sabres to move him on for some better assets and to clear some roster spots. Cozens would be a decent pickup for the Canucks as a young second or third line centre, and will be a player with a lot to offer in the playoffs in years to come.
But why does Pettersson fit in at Buffalo? The Sabres currently have such a young team, with players like Peterka, Benson, Kulich and Quinn being some of the core players for the team, and a player with lots of experience in the regular and postseason could help this young core develop a lot. Being a consistent point scorer, and an extremely effective playmaker, Pettersson is the perfect fit in Buffalo, and would compliment those like Quinn and Peterka perfectly.
The Canucks would only realistically take this deal if it benefited them massively. With Pettersson’s status, and being a trade deadline premium, it wouldn't be a surprise if a surplus of picks and potentially prospects were involved in the trade. Differently to the Rantanen trade, the Canucks would look for some young prospects, and mostly future players instead of now players, and with Pettersson’s massive trade value, they would make sure to use a team like Buffalo to maximise the value of the trade, and set themselves up for the future after a disappointing season.
The Ottawa Senators
Ottawa is another spot that Pettersson could be moved to before the deadline, and another team similar to Buffalo that has a lot to offer in a trade as big as this. The Senators have completely switched the narrative this season after a couple of dead years finishing in the bottom 10, but with their prospect fully developing this year, Pettersson could add a lot to their playoff push. The Senators currently sit 13th in the standings, currently in a playoff spot, and bringing in a player like Pettersson, will bring much more playoff hope for Sens fans.
But what do they have to offer? With key players like Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Chabot being ‘untouchable’ it's likely that the Sens could include a player like Josh Norris in a deal, along with a few picks. Ottawa don't particularly have a massive amount of valuable draft capital in the first and second rounds, but would probably be willing to forfeit a second and some thirds and fourths in return for a player of Pettersson’s caliber. Norris currently being injured may make it harder for the Sens to get the trade over the line, and could drive teams away from a trade, but with still lots of potential on his shoulders, it wouldn't be a massive risk for the Canucks to pick him up in a trade along with some draft picks, and could fill in a second or third line spot in the future.
Personally, I believe from the Canucks perspective that Ottawa is the least likely of the three teams that Pettersson could be traded to due to much better offers being on the table. But from Pettersson’s perspective it's probably one of the more favourable destinations with the future looking bright in Ottawa.
The New York Rangers
After already moving Kappo Kakko to the Kraken earlier in the season, New York who are currently struggling, and are outside of the playoff spots, could look to move some players at the deadline. Two players in particular are Filip Chytil and Mika Zibanejad. Reports believed that Chytil was involved in a trade package earlier last week in a potential trade for Mikko Rantanen, but the deal fell through, also alerting teams that Chytil is on the trade block. Zibanejad has also had rough seasons with the Rangers, and could also be seeing himself out the door pretty soon, and the Canucks could be the perfect place.
With Chytil still being only 25 years old, and Zibanejad still having his elite playmaking ability despite a slow season, both players could benefit the Canucks massively, and could help them not only now, but in the future. With the Rangers still having more than a playoff level team, a player like Pettersson would definitely elevate their play on the ice, and would help them massively in their push for the playoffs at the end of the season. Had the trade be made, Pettersson would likely play alongside Panarin, a duo that would tear up the league, and would be a force to be reckoned with. In a big market like New York, and an array of trade packages, Pettersson to New York definitely makes sense, and could be a move we see soon.
With it being clear that the Canucks want now players, and future players, New York has the perfect combination. Players like KJ Miller could also be seen as a candidate to be traded after a rocky season, and even Kreider who could bring another key veteran presence in Vancouver. The possibilities are endless in New York as to how they could acquire Pettersson, but could definitely be the perfect situation for both teams, and would benefit both their interests massively.
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