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Blackhawks Urged to 'Move Heaven And Earth' for Canucks' Elias Pettersson

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jan 18, 2025 7:00 AM ET

As the Chicago Blackhawks endure another tough season, The Athletic's Mark Lazerus is calling for bold action to turn the franchise around.

Lazerus' thoughts align with those of fellow analyst Scott Powers, who pointed toward the franchise’s potential pursuit of an elite linemate for franchise cornerstone Connor Bedard in a column published on Jan. 2.

Writing his own column at The Athletic on Friday, Lazerus proposed a blockbuster move to acquire Vancouver Canucks star, Elias Pettersson.

In Lazerus' eyes, the 26-year-old could be the perfect fit to mentor generational talent Bedard and elevate the team’s rebuild.

“The Blackhawks—like every other team in the league—should be trying to move heaven and Earth to pry Elias Pettersson out of Vancouver,” Lazerus wrote. “Pettersson can make Bedard and the Blackhawks better immediately, and he’s young enough to fit Chicago’s longer-term timeline.”

Pettersson, signed through 2031-32 with an $11.6 million cap hit, has proven himself as one of the NHL’s elite playmakers and scorers, tallying 102 points in 2022–23 and 89 last season.

Lazerus believes pairing him with Bedard would improve Bedard's production while bringing some excitement to an upset fanbase--the Blackhawks have made the playoffs just once in the last seven years.

“Pettersson would fully unlock Bedard, elevating him to the megastar level he’s been destined for since he was 14,” Lazerus added. “If Bedard can produce at this rate with the likes of Philipp Kurashev and Ilya Mikheyev on his wing, imagine what he could do with Pettersson.”

Lazerus suggested a potential package for Pettersson, including top prospects Frank Nazar and Kevin Korchinski alongside Toronto’s first-round pick acquired in the Jake McCabe trade.

"Do I think Nazar is going to be a good NHL player? I do," Larerus wrote. "I love his speed, his relentlessness, and his confidence. He can be a very good No. 2 center.

"Do I think Kevin Korchinski is going to be a good NHL player? I do. I love how he skates, I’ve seen the improvements he’s made on the defensive side, and I know the offensive flair from his time in juniors still lives within him. He can be a very solid No. 2 defenseman.

"Would I trade Nazar, Korchinski and Toronto’s first-round pick for Pettersson? In a heartbeat."

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman's report about the Canucks being open to trading J.T. Miller and Pettersson to fellow Western Conference teams makes Lazerus' idea possible.

Vancouver has been exploring their options with both Pettersson and J.T. Miller amid reports of internal friction, making the All-Star center a realistic target for general manager Kyle Davidson.

"Nazar might be good. Korchinski might be good. The No. 20-something pick might be good," Lazerus wrote. "Pettersson is great. And he’s great now. Bedard—and the Blackhawks—need great."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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