The Vancouver Canucks aren’t wasting any time reshaping their roster, landing defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a late-night deal Friday.
The trade comes just hours after Vancouver sent J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers.
Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman broke the news, revealing that the Canucks are sending Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernstrom, and the first-round pick they just got from the Rangers back to Pittsburgh.
It’s a bold move for Vancouver, who clearly had this deal in their back pocket while working out the Miller trade.
Pettersson is the key piece here. The 27-year-old defenseman has been playing top-four minutes in Pittsburgh and was one of the most talked-about blueliners heading into the trade deadline.
There’s some risk involved – Pettersson can become a free agent at the end of this season. But the Canucks are betting his steady defensive play will help fill the hole left by Miller’s departure.
O’Connor adds some nice depth to Vancouver’s forward group, giving them another option as they retool their lineup for a playoff push.
The Canucks are sending quite a package back to Pittsburgh, but they’re clearly focused on winning now. That first-round pick they just got from New York didn’t stay in Vancouver very long.
