There have been no shortage of trade rumours this season regarding the Vancouver Canucks, and those rumours won’t end until the trade deadline is past. Even the Canucks top talents and most paid personnel cannot escape it. Rumours surrounding Elias Pettersson and his potential departure have swirled for some time now, effectively since before J.T Miller was shipped off to New York, in a bid to ease tensions between Miller and Pettersson.
The Canucks made their decision on who they wanted to keep almost exactly one year ago. It was Pettersson over Miller. Now you can argue until you’re blue in the face on who won that trade, or who Vancouver should have kept, but the bottom line is that the Canucks are now in a position to potentially move on from arguably their last remaining elite piece of their team.
Who Can Land Pettersson?
TSN insider Martin Biron reported last week on his pick for who he thinks could and would step up to the plate on the bidding for Pettersson. When discussing the best fits for some of the league’s most intriguing trade targets, he paired Pettersson with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Biron cited the Hurricanes’ willingness to make the big deal, pointing to the acquisition, and subsequent selling, of Mikko Rantanen last season. As well alluding to the weak metropolitan division this season, as a reason for the Hurricanes’ eagerness to bolster their team as much as possible, in hopes of making a deep playoff run.
The acquisition of Pettersson however wouldn’t only help a playoff run this year however, but for the next 6 seasons after this one, at an exorbitant cap hit to boot. A cap hit that the Carolina Hurricanes can likely afford, especially if the Canucks were willing to retain some of Pettersson’s salary.
As for what the return could be, and assuming Pettersson waives his no move clause for the trade, the going price would likely be substantial, seeing as Vancouver isn’t forced to make any decisions on Pettersson just yet.
As aforementioned, Pettersson has 6 years remaining on his $11.6 million AAV contract, and with the Canucks likely to shed more cap this season, and now being frivolous buyers in the summer, they can afford to keep him. This is also not like the situation with Quinn Hughes, wherein the Canucks had the work fast to capitalize on Hughes’ value, or suffer a woeful return.
As for the return, the Canucks would likely ask for some form of package consisting of at least 2 of Alexander Nikishin, Bradley Nadeau, and a 1st round pick. If the Hurricanes wanted to shed some cap without forcing the Canucks to take on salary, Jesperi Kotkaniemi could also be a peice returning the other way.
Mock Trade:
Vancouver Receives: Kotkaniemi, Nadeau, 2027 1st (Higher or Dallas or Carolina), 2027 2nd
Carolina Receives: Elias Pettersson
This is a trade that does great things for both teams. For Carolina, they receive a player who they should feel confident in their ability to rehabilitate under the guidance of Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour, as well as an excellent roster around Pettersson to further help him succeed and re-achieve his former plateau.
As well, what they’re giving up isn’t too much to bear, especially with the Canucks taking on their own reclamation project in Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Certainly losing Nadeau hurts, but it would still be years before he is the player Pettersson is now, if he reaches that at all. As for the draft picks, the Hurricanes have managed to keep their cupboards well stocked during their competitive seasons, so this is not such a big blow.
As for Vancouver, they receive a very exciting young forward prospect, along with some more needed draft capital for the coming years of the rebuild. Sure the Canucks also take a big chance with Kotkaniemi, whose tenure in Carolina has been less than stellar of late, but with no hopes to truly contend in the next 2-3 seasons, the risk is mitigated. Plus with the cap rising steadily in the coming years, 4.8 million will only get more and more stomachable.
On the glass half full side of things, the Canucks have their own opportunity to rebuild Kotkeniemi’s game, and perhaps a larger role and more ice time on a team without expectation can do just that. However you need to swallow that pill, the addition of Nadeau, a 1st, and a 2nd makes it worth it.
