The Vancouver Canucks might be shifting their trade plans in an unexpected direction. While J.T. Miller was initially thought to be on the move, it’s now Elias Pettersson who’s drawing serious attention from around the league.
Miller nearly got scratched last weekend when a trade seemed close, but that deal fell through.
The Carolina Hurricanes kicked the tires on both Miller and Pettersson before ultimately going in a different direction, landing Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall instead.
Now, the Buffalo Sabres are showing strong interest in Pettersson, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Ottawa Senators are apparently in the mix too.
Here’s what makes this interesting: Pettersson just signed a massive deal worth $92.8 million over eight years. That’s $11.6 million per season. And unlike Miller, who has a no-move clause, Pettersson can be traded anywhere without his approval.
The 26-year-old center’s numbers tell quite a story. He was absolutely on fire two years ago, putting up 102 points with 39 goals. Last season was still pretty solid – 89 points in total.
But this year? Things aren’t looking so hot.
Pettersson’s only managed 30 points in 42 games, landing him fifth in team scoring. Some folks think his struggles might have something to do with tension between him and Miller, but whatever the reason, it’s not what the Canucks were hoping for.
Both the Sabres and Senators have some interesting pieces they could offer. Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens, who’s locked in at $7.1 million through 2030, had a breakout 68-point season recently. Ottawa’s Josh Norris, who’s making $7.95 million until 2030, has shown he can score too – he put up 35 goals in 2021-22.
Neither of these guys is quite at Pettersson’s level, but they could work as part of a bigger package.
With Miller trade talks hitting roadblocks, the Canucks seem more open to moving Pettersson. It’s pretty rare to see a top-line center in his prime hit the market, so GM Patrik Allvin’s phone is probably getting quite a workout these days.
