Are Kings still best bet to trade for Canucks' Elias Pettersson?
The Vancouver Canucks have traded one Pettersson, how about another?
New GM Ryan Johnson has spoken about resetting the culture, and you have to wonder if that’s possible with Elias Pettersson still in the lineup.
It seems clear to most that the 27-year-old centre could use a fresh start elsewhere, at the very least. Canucks management is reportedly “motivated to move” him.
The issue is that Pettersson makes $11.6 million a year until 2032. He also has a full no-movement clause in his contract.
But that doesn’t mean he’s impossible to trade.
With the salary cap rising, $11.6 million is looking more affordable by the day. This is now a league where 32-year-old centre Colton Sissons was given a $4.25-million contract, following a six-goal season. And given the direction of the franchise, surely there’s another team or 10 that Pettersson would prefer to play for.
The team that many have suggested would be a good fit for Pettersson is the Los Angeles Kings. And apparently, the Kings have called the Canucks about him.
“There has been some conversation around Elias Pettersson. I do know that the Kings made a call and they kicked the tires,” TSN’s Farhan Lalji said on Thursday’s edition of Donnie and Dhali. “It wasn’t a formal offer, but I don’t think what they were discussing providing back was necessarily going to be good enough yet. But I think those conversations are going to continue as well.”
With Anze Kopitar now retired, many have wondered if Pettersson could be an appealing replacement up the middle. The Kings were active in free agency on Wednesday though, adding Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, and Corey Perry. They also re-signed Scott Laughton.
It leaves the Kings with just $1.8 million in projected cap space, per PuckPedia, which doesn’t leave much room for Pettersson.
If the Kings are out, then who else might have interest? We know the Carolina Hurricanes talked to the Canucks about Pettersson in the past, but with the emergence of Logan Stankoven and a Stanley Cup championship under their belt, that would seem unlikely now.
I wonder about Seattle. They’re obviously desperate to make a splash and are reeling after Jason Robertson snubbed them. They have over $18 million in cap space.
Whatever the case, the Pettersson file will be an interesting one to continue monitoring.
It doesn’t appear to be an ideal time for the Canucks to trade him, given that his value is at an all-time low. But at the same time, what’s the risk in bringing him back?
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