3 Possible Destinations for Elias Pettersson

The topic of Elias Pettersson is where it gets a little hairy for the Vancouver Canucks. Although he is a former 100 point player, since the bickering with former Canuck JT Miller, Pettersson seems to have not been the same since, with just 45 points in 64 games last year and only 29 points through 41 games this year. His trade value is at an all-time low, but his contract, his age, and his performance just don’t fit the current state that the Vancouver Canucks are in right now. So here are three teams that could possibly target Swedish Sniper, Elias Pettersson.

#1. Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes have been a rumoured landing spot for Elias Pettersson ever since they made the trade for Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche just last season. The Hurricanes have some of the most cap space among Stanley Cup contending teams, so they can definitely take on the $11.5M that comes with Elias Pettersson. A package like Jesperi Kotkaniemi with his distasteful contract, the spare 2028 first-round pick from the Dallas Stars trade, along with a decent prospect, possibly a name like Charles-Alexis Legault, or even two more deeper draft picks, and I think this finally gets Carolina over their playoff hump and adds onto Vancouver’s massive haul of young players and picks.

#2. San Jose Sharks

Yes. Right after trading Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose, I believe that Jim Rutherford could stay on the phone with the Sharks. The Sharks have had a much better season than many expected, thanks to the explosion of Macklin Celebrini, who is currently 4th in the league in points as a 19-year-old. However, San Jose’s centre depth besides Celebrini is way too shallow if they want to contend in the playoffs. So with trade relations already built, I think both parties could benefit from a deal around the veteran centre, Elias Pettersson. The Canucks have been rumoured to have interest in young Swede, Filip Bystedt, for some time now, especially coming out of the Kiefer Sherwood deal. If the Canucks can manage to get a 1st round pick along with a deeper pick, another prospect, or even a deeper main roster guy like Ty Dellandrea or Igor Chernyshov, this package could work out for both teams, but only if San Jose is committing to a push NOW.

#3. Detroit Red Wings

Like Carolina, Detroit has the cap space and flexibility to make this trade an easy process, and like San Jose, they are performing far above expectations this season, sitting second in the Atlantic Division. Detroit has a very good balance of youth and win-now players, so they shouldn’t be too hesitant on trading away some youth for a two-way centre like Pettersson. A deal including Marco Kasper, Michael Rasmussen, and a second-rounder or possibly even a first, if Detroit is feeling generous, could get the job done. There is so much volatility in the Eastern Conference for the wild card race that no one is safe, so Detroit might have to push the “commit to playoffs” button and pull the trigger on a guy like Pettersson.

At the end of the day, it is almost a certainty that someone, very likely a championship contender, is going to come along, swoop Elias Pettersson off his feet, and signify a changing of the guard in leadership of the Vancouver Canucks. Nobody is safe on the roster as we speak, but as soon as the once “golden boy” of Vancouver is gone, not only will it be a changing of the guard as I mentioned, but it also symbolizes a new era in Vancouver hockey, and by the looks of it, President Jim Rutherford is prepared and ready for that day to arrive.

• Detroit Red Wings Linked to Elias Pettersson
• Could Michael Rasmussen Be Who the Flyers Are Looking For?
• Showtime Continues as Red Wings Shutout Blackhawks
• Vancouver Canucks Sign Marcus Pettersson to Six-Year Extension
• NHL Game Preview: San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings with Line Combinations 1/16/2025