Another trade: Vancouver Canucks make five-player deal with Pittsburgh Penguins
The Vancouver Canucks now have three players named “Pettersson” on the team.
Just a few hours after their blockbuster trade of J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers, the Canucks have acquired defenceman Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a five-player deal.
The Canucks are sending the Rangers’ first-round pick received earlier in the day along with Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, and Melvin Fernstrom to Pittsburgh in the return for Pettersson and winger Drew O’Connor in return.
The Canucks already had two Petterssons on the team, both with the first name Elias.
A 6-foot-5 left-shot defenceman, Pettersson had three goals and 15 assists in 47 games this season with the Penguins. The 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent is in the last year of a contract paying him $4,025,175.
O’Connor is a speedy, forechecking winger with size — he’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds. The 26-year-old New Jersey native has six goals and 10 assists in 53 games. O’Connor had a career-best season in 2023-24, scoring 33 points (16-17-33) in 79 games.
Like Pettersson, O’Connor is also a pending UFA. He’s in the last year of a contract paying him $925,000.
Heinen had just recently finished his final game as a Canuck, picking up an assist in a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. Both he and Desharnais are now off the team after signing with Vancouver as free agents this past summer.
Both Desharnais ($2 million) and Heinen ($2.25 million) are under contract until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Fernstrom was drafted by the Canucks in the third round of the 2023 draft. The 18-year-old right winger has eight points (3-5-8) in 35 games in the Swedish Hockey League this season.
“We wish both Danton and Vinny all the best in Pittsburgh and thank them for their contributions this season,” said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin. “We are really happy to add to the depth of our team with the acquisitions of Marcus and Drew. Marcus has good size, reach, and makes solid decisions with the puck while Drew is an intelligent player with versatility and a bigger frame.”
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