5 teams that could take a chance on Canucks' Elias Pettersson this season
If you’re starting to feel like Elias Pettersson might be with the Vancouver Canucks for life, you’re not alone.
Over two years of underwhelming play, coupled with his bloated contract, have suppressed trade value for the 27-year-old centre.
But, for Canucks fans who still want him traded, there’s a saving grace.
Locked On Wild podcast host Seth Toupal told me this week that Minnesota fans have been asking about the possibility of getting Pettersson to solve their centre woes.
Can you imagine a Quinn Hughes and Pettersson reunion?
Minnesota seems like an unlikely destination because of the potential awkwardness of a Hughes and Pettersson reunion, coupled with the Wild’s tight cap situation.
However, the interest from Wild fans signifies the larger point: lots of teams are looking for top-six centres.
Pettersson will have to show some sort of bounce-back to make a trade feasible. The Canucks aren’t simply trading him to get off of the contract. But there are creative ways of trying to juice Pettersson’s trade value.
If he can show prolonged flashes of the player he used to be, it might be enough for a team to bite, with these teams being the most likely suitors.
1. Los Angeles Kings
It’s a potential fit that’s hard to ignore.
The Los Angeles Kings have been entrenched in the mushy middle for the last five seasons. With Anze Kopitar now retired, their centre depth is decisively below-average, with Quintin Byfield, Erik Haula, Scott Laughton, and Alex Turcotte.
Things are so desperate that new head coach Peter Laviolette has brought up the idea of playing Adrian Kempe at centre. Kempe has won 40.5 per cent of faceoffs in his 10-year NHL career.
The Kings aren’t doing anything to suggest that a rebuild is on the horizon under general manager Ken Holland. Plus, if Pettersson is going to waive to go anywhere, you’d think he’d choose the place his wife calls home.
2. New York Islanders
Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat once made a good 1-2 punch for the Canucks. (Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports)
In the spring of 2025, the New York Islanders looked like they were about to enter a rebuild under new general manager Mathieu Darche.
Then, they drafted Matthew Schaefer. Rebuild over?
With Schaefer bursting onto the scene as a highlight-reel machine blueliner, Darche has shied away from rebuilding-esque moves. He paid a first for Brayden Schenn at the trade deadline, and decided to re-sign 33-year-old Jean-Gabriel Pageau to a three-year extension.
Darche also fired Patrick Roy and hired Pete DeBoer, who isn’t the coach you bring in for a rebuild.
At centre, the Islanders largely use Bo Horvat, Pageau, and Casey Cizikas, with Calum Ritchie and Mat Barzal spending a lot of time on the wing.
Seems like there’s a spot for Pettersson to slide into the 2C hole behind his old friend, Horvat.
And let’s not forget, these two teams were chatting around the trade deadline last year.
3. Buffalo Sabres
After ending their 15-year player drought, the pressure is on the Buffalo Sabres to continue pushing forward.
Which is why it’s a bit surprising that they seemingly plan on putting Tage Thompson at wing in an attempt to replace Alex Tuch.
Yes, the Sabres are relying on centre depth of Josh Norris, Ryan McLeod, Noah Ostlund, and Sam Carrick to keep their postseason streak alive.
Last year, new GM Jarmo Kekalainen seemed more than happy to spend at the deadline, trading former first-rounder Isak Rosen (who tore up the AHL last season) for a second, third, fourth and sixth-round picks for Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, and Sam Carrick. If he’s willing to give that much up for depth players, could he potentially overpay for Pettersson?
Of course, the better question is, would Pettersson actually waive to go to Buffalo?
If the heat gets cranked up in Vancouver, perhaps, but the will-he-waive question affects the next team on this list.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
Kyle Dubas has earned praise from Pittsburgh Penguins pundits of late. (Pittsburgh Penguins)
You have to love those analytically inclined general managers, always zigging while others are trading five draft picks for Stanley, Schenn, and Carrick.
Early in the offseason, Pettersson was reportedly getting interest from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It wouldn’t be the first time Kyle Dubas has chased a reclamation project with upside. Heck, he did that just last year by targeting Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakov.
Reports that Pettersson isn’t willing to waive following the news have dampened the likelihood, but potentially not Pittsburgh’s interest.
5. Carolina Hurricanes
It’s easy to think the Carolina Hurricanes are long over Elias Pettersson.
However, they’ve shown an ability to succeed in unorthodox fashion.
Jordan Staal isn’t getting any younger; they have cap space and a spare part in Jesperi Kotkaniemi to help make a deal happen.
Forward-thinking teams accomplish the unorthodox, and perhaps there’s a world where Carolina pictures Sebastian Aho, Logan Stankoven and Pettersson as their three centres once Father Time catches up to Jordan Staal.
Not to mention, somehow, the defending Stanley Cup champions have excess draft picks, including four first-rounders in the next three years.
Other teams that have a top-six centre need: Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, and Winnipeg Jets.