Detroit Red Wings Linked to Elias Pettersson

The Detroit Red Wings are looking to snap a nine-year playoff drought. They are currently tied for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning; the Lightning has three games in hand. The Red Wings do hold an eight-point lead for a playoff spot with where they sit right now, they are looking to add. They had reportedly been in on defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Quinn Hughes, but ultimately wanted an extension with the trade. Now reports are that they are back in the hunt for a Vancouver Canuck and are being linked to Elias Pettersson, according to Frank Seravalli.

Pettersson, this season in 40 games, has 29 points on 13 goals and 16 assists. He’s a -17 with two power-play goals and a shorthanded goal. Pettersson’s name was floating around last season at the trade deadline, and now it’s back with Detroit sniffing around. Pettersson is under contract until 2023 and has a no-movement clause, which would mean does he want to go to Detroit. If a trade is agreed upon, he’d have to approve it. Trades are expected to start coming with a roster freeze approaching in a few weeks due to the Olympic break.

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Elias Pettersson

The Canucks drafted Pettersson fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He made his debut with Vancouver on October 3rd against the Calgary Flames. He wasted no time scoring his first goal as he did so in the first period; he also recorded an assist in that game. Pettersson finished that season playing in 71 games, recording 66 points on 28 goals and 38 assists. He was a plus-three with ten power-play goals and seven game-winning goals. Pettersson won the Calder Memorial Trophy.

He has spent all eight seasons of his NHL career with Vancouver, appearing in 511 games, recording 486 points on 198 goals and 288 assists. He is a +29 with 60 power-play goals, eight shorthanded goals, and 33 game-winning goals. Pettersson has finished as high as seventh in Selke voting, which came in 2022-23. In 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games, he has 24 points on eight goals and 16 assists. He’s a plus-two with five power-play goals and two game-winning goals.

Detroit Red Wings Fit

The Red Wings adding Pettersson could put him on the second line to play with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. The move would allow them to move Andrew Copp down to the third line. One name to watch that could be in the trade is Marco Kasper, who then Detroit could move James van Riemsdyk to the top line to play with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Emmitt Finnie could also slide to the top line to keep some balance and allow some bottom-six scoring.

Acquiring Pettersson would be a huge move for the Red Wings and would be something that rejuvenates his career. If the Red Wings are able to add someone of Pettersson’s caliber is a piece that should certainly end the playoff drought in Detroit. The tough part is the return to Vancouver, which would likely include Kasper, a first-round pick, and likely a defenseman and/or a prospect.

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