Vancouver Canucks are willing to trade Elias Pettersson: report
It’s been almost two years since the Vancouver Canucks handed Elias Pettersson the most expensive contract in club history.
Now, in just the second season of his massive eight-year contract, the Canucks could be looking to trade Pettersson.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday that Vancouver is listening when teams call about the availability of the Canucks’ highest-paid player.
“The Vancouver Canucks are listening and will listen to interest in Pettersson, despite believing that if he gets a change of scenery and a new start somewhere else, he’s going to thrive in a new environment.”
Dreger also mentioned that there’s been no contact between the Canucks and Pettersson’s agent, Pat Brisson, something that would have to occur before a trade since the 27-year-old has a full no-move clause.
However, that doesn’t mean teams haven’t been calling about his availability.
Two weeks ago, Patrick Johnston of The Province reported that teams have been calling the Canucks about Pettersson. At the time, the Canucks’ centre was just returning from a three-week injury absence.
While he’s still nowhere near the player he once was, Pettersson’s defensive numbers have remained solid, even though he’s going up against the opposition’s top players on a nightly basis.
Pettersson has been dependable defensively despite a drop in offensive production. (JFresh Hockey)
Backers of Pettersson will point to the fact that he hasn’t been playing with good wingers. While that’s true, he was also an elite offensive producer earlier in his career while playing with middle-six wingers such as Ilya Mikheyev, Nils Hƶglander and Anthony Beauvillier.
And of course, it’s hard to ignore his middling production when he’s the NHL’s eighth-highest-paid player.
Perhaps it was also telling on Tuesday that, when Canucks head coach Adam Foote was asked by the media in Ottawa about players who have filled the leadership void in Quinn Hughes’ absence, he mentioned five players.
None of them were named Elias Pettersson.
Although Pettersson’s struggles have been well-documented, he has been scoring with more regularity of late. Over his last eight games, the Sundsvall, Sweden native has four goals in eight games.
Could a hot streak be what it takes for a team to pay up for his services? That’s what a large portion of the fanbase is likely hoping for.