The drama and commerce rumors by no means appear to finish in Vancouver.
On Tuesday, Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford sat down with The Globe and Mail’s Gary Mason for a bombshell interview. Rutherford spoke concerning the rift between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, insinuating that it’s an untenable state of affairs. He mentioned that, “It definitely seems like there’s not a great answer that may maintain this group collectively” and spoke at size about the potential of buying and selling them.
Rutherford’s interview is the clearest signal but that the Canucks are significantly contemplating blowing up their core. Initially, the main focus was on Miller, with extensive reporting on a deal with the New York Rangers that was close but ultimately fell through
These days, nevertheless, the chatter round Pettersson has picked up. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday that Pettersson was close to being moved to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier than the Mikko Rantanen commerce. Friedman added that Pettersson commerce talks are ongoing.
If the Canucks can solely maintain considered one of Pettersson or Miller, the reply must be to commerce Miller and maintain Pettersson. Miller turns 32 in March and is signed to a contract that spans 5 years past this season. He could not have a few years of elite manufacturing left whereas Pettersson, 26, is in the course of his prime.
Nonetheless, Vancouver’s entrance workplace could not view this as a simple resolution as a result of Miller’s trade value appears distressed. The checklist of potential commerce companions for Miller is dwindling and he has full management of the state of affairs due to his no-movement clause. It’s going to be exceptionally tough, if not downright inconceivable, for the Canucks to extract full worth in a Miller commerce.
Pettersson, then again, continues to be prone to maintain profitable commerce worth due to his age, prior monitor document and the truth that he doesn’t have any commerce safety proper now.
We nonetheless consider the Canucks can be higher off retaining Pettersson, however the group might resolve to go in both path at this level. With that in thoughts, let’s analyze Pettersson’s state of affairs, potential commerce worth, and the groups that would/must be inquisitive about his companies.
What Pettersson brings to the lineup
Pettersson has carried out on the degree of a star No. 1 heart for many of his time in Vancouver.
Earlier this season, colleague Thomas Drance built a cohort of NHL forwards who produced between 1-1.2 points per game before their 26th birthday while appearing in at least 350 games. Since 1990, solely 19 gamers matched this standards and it’s principally a listing of legendary gamers.

Historical past would recommend that gamers with Pettersson’s early profession statistical profile virtually at all times go on to be long-time franchise forwards. That’s essential context contemplating his current struggles.
When Pettersson’s at his greatest, he’s a deadly sniper and a slick, elite IQ playmaker. He can drive a line, legitimately elevate his wingers and break video games open when he’s feeling it. He’s able to being a 90-100 level producer, as evidenced by the 102 factors he scored in 2022-23 and the 89 factors he notched final season.
Pettersson can also be a savvy, accountable defensive participant. He’s clever at anticipating performs defensively and leveraging his stick to dam passing lanes and drive turnovers. Pettersson completed seventh in Selke Trophy voting in 2022-23 and regardless that he’s struggled offensively this 12 months, he’s continued to be a reliable participant away from the puck.
The elephant within the room is Pettersson’s mysterious offensive drop-off during the last 12 months, particularly since he’s within the first season of an eight-year, $11.6 million AAV contract. Courting again to final 12 months’s All-Star break, he has solely scored 18 objectives and 56 factors in 76 video games. That doesn’t even embrace his disappointing playoff run final spring the place he mustered only one objective in 13 video games.
Pettersson has regarded off in a number of other ways.
He seems to lack separating velocity together with his acceleration and skating nowadays. He doesn’t appear to have sufficient dynamic drive when skating the puck by the impartial zone which has hindered his capability to beat defenders one-on-one and create probabilities off the push. NHL Edge information backs this up too: Pettersson was within the 88th percentile of NHL forwards for velocity bursts above 20 miles per hour throughout his career-best 2022-23 season, however has cratered to the 53rd percentile this season.
That drop-off in his skating is very notable as a result of Pettersson handled knee tendonitis down the stretch final season, which coincides with the timing of his manufacturing falling off a cliff. There isn’t any reporting round Pettersson enjoying by an damage this season, but it surely’s truthful to marvel if there have been any lingering results.
Pettersson’s capturing price has collapsed. And even when he’s capturing, there’s been a noticeable drop-off in his shot velocity: Pettersson was within the 91st percentile of all forwards for common shot velocity in 2022-23, however is all the way down to the 59th percentile this season.
Pettersson’s offensive drop-off is alarming. However his long-term monitor document means that he ought to bounce again to being a star No. 1 heart until you consider that his bodily attributes (skating, energy, shot) have completely declined in his mid-20s, which appears unlikely.
What’s Pettersson’s commerce worth?
Jack Eichel stands out as a possible comparable for Pettersson’s commerce worth.
Eichel was additionally a high heart in his mid-20s, with perceived danger and a giant contract. Nonetheless, there was uncertainty about his neck damage and his desire to undergo artificial disk replacement surgery, which had never been performed on an NHL player before. Given the Sabres’ futility throughout his time with the membership, Eichel’s management and locker room impression have been additionally questioned.
Vegas gave up Alex Tuch (a great top-six winger), Peyton Krebs (a stable heart prospect) and a first-round choose. That’s a large bundle, but it surely clearly paled compared to the worth Eichel has given the Golden Knights as a franchise participant who led them to a Stanley Cup.
The Canucks must be versatile relating to the kind of bundle they aim in the event that they select to dangle Pettersson. Sure, getting one other heart can be ideally suited as a result of they’re not seeking to rebuild, but when the very best provide is a king’s ransom of futures they might at all times take that and flip them for win-now assist in separate trades, much like how the Canucks turned a part of the Bo Horvat commerce haul into Filip Hronek.
Groups that would/must be
In The Globe and Mail interview, Rutherford acknowledged that the Canucks gained’t have the ability to herald a middle of Pettersson’s (or Miller’s) caliber in return. However transferring out one (or each) of these pivotal items will go away gaps that administration has to fill. That’s why Dylan Cozens might change into part of the dialog.
Cozens confirmed a ton of promise throughout a breakout season in 2022-23, however has struggled to live up to the hype during the last couple of seasons. In most conditions, the Sabres can be promoting low in the event that they traded the 23-year-old right-handed heart too quickly however this may very well be a main alternative for Buffalo to recoup worth.
The Sabres have prospects and picks to supply the Canucks. And the group has so much invested in 4 left-handed defensemen, and that’s earlier than factoring in Bowen Byram’s subsequent contract. That might make considered one of their blueliners like Owen Energy or Bowern Byram expendable to Vancouver. A bundle constructed round Energy and Cozens would be the Canucks’ greatest probability at recouping worth from a possible Pettersson commerce.
Till Pettersson’s no-movement clause kicks in on July 1, the Sabres don’t have to fret about whether or not he can see the palm timber in Buffalo by their present last-place standing (and less-than-one percent shot on the postseason). The in-season timing of those negotiations, due to this fact, is of the essence for the Sabres.
The Predators are well-positioned to take a run at Pettersson for a couple of causes:
- Nashville has a evident long-term want for a No.1 heart regardless of Steven Stamkos’ current success at 1C.
- Common supervisor Barry Trotz not too long ago instructed The Athletic that he’s not interested in a retool or rebuild and that staying competitive is a priority. Pettersson is within the good age class the place he’d give the membership a lift instantly however can also be younger sufficient to be an enormous piece of the franchise’s long-term future.
- Trotz is a giant believer in taking aggressive, daring swings when the proper alternative presents itself.
- Nashville has a deep battle chest of younger gamers, prospects and draft picks to construct a bundle round.
Nashville has three first-round picks this 12 months. The Preds have intriguing younger gamers who’re already contributing within the NHL like 21-year-old heart Fedor Svechkov (the No. 19 choose in 2021 who’s already off to a scorching begin to his profession) and Luke Evangelista. In addition they have blue-chip prospects like puck-moving defenseman Tanner Molendyk or heart David Edstrom. Is there a combo of younger gamers, prospects and picks amongst that group that may work for each side?
Utah is well-positioned to be within the combine for Pettersson. It begins with possession’s willingness to take massive swings for high-end expertise, much like the Vegas mannequin. Administration aggressively upgraded their blue line final summer time. Now, the main focus ought to shift to their largest weak point: heart depth.
Pettersson would rework Utah down the center, and he’s within the age vary of somebody who can develop with this up-and-coming group. A one-two punch of Pettersson and Logan Cooley — versus their present duo of Cooley and Barrett Hayton — would get this group a lot nearer to the playoff image.
Utah ought to have the cap flexibility to swing a deal, particularly in the long term, and have items to entice Vancouver. If the thought is to carry a middle again, then Hayton may very well be of curiosity. Plus, Utah has a surplus of defensemen (particularly now that they’re getting more healthy) to assist tackle one other space of want for the Canucks, to not point out a deep, sturdy prospect pipeline.
Pettersson’s such an fascinating commerce goal as a result of he is a perfect match for groups on each ends of the spectrum – contenders and rebuilding golf equipment.
Including Pettersson wouldn’t all of a sudden make the Blackhawks playoff-caliber. However a one-two punch of Pettersson and Connor Bedard down the center would assist the group take a leap ahead.
Rebuilding golf equipment can’t solely be constructed of gamers of their teenagers and early 20s with a number of potential. There need to be some veterans, like Nick Foligno in Chicago, to assist in the locker room. And ideally, that group can get to a degree the place they begin taking their stockpile of future belongings and flip them into gamers within the prime of their careers. That will be a greater match than throwing cash at superstars when (or if) they make it to free company.
The Blackhawks have a ton of cap area to work with, and a number of younger expertise to curiosity the Canucks. As The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus wrote, Bedard can be the one undisputed untouchable within the group, with blue chip skills like Frank Nazar, the No. 13 pick in 2022, and Kevin Korchinski, the No. 7 pick in 2022, possible obtainable to construct a bundle round. Chicago additionally has three first-rounders over the following two years and 5 second-round picks to dangle.

Is a bundle centered round Mason McTavish sufficient to entice the Canucks? (Ronald Martinez / Getty Photographs)
The Geese are poised to overlook the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season. They’re in the same place to the Sabres the place their rebuild has stalled and their thrilling, younger gamers are growing slower than anticipated.
Anaheim has its future No. 1 heart in Leo Carlsson (although he’s disenchanted with 16 factors in 44 video games as a sophomore this season) so it doesn’t have an enormous positional want for Pettersson, however this chance can be extra about including an elite expertise in his mid-20s to jumpstart a stalled rebuild.
Would both facet be compelled by a bundle constructed round 21-year-old heart Mason McTavish? McTavish, the No. 3 choose in 2021, scored 42 factors in 64 video games final season as a sophomore. He has the potential to develop right into a high-end top-six heart however he’s did not take the following step this season. The Geese even have a stacked pipeline of promising younger defensemen they might provide up, with Pavel Mintyukov, the No. 10 choose in 2022, maybe standing out from a Canucks perspective. Anaheim might at all times flip to its deep prospect pool to sweeten the pot.
The Canucks is likely to be leery of buying and selling Pettersson to a divisional rival, but when the Geese are inquisitive about significantly bidding, they’d be one of the asset-rich commerce companions for Vancouver to contemplate.
Flyers basic supervisor Daniel Brière brazenly mentioned the group’s have to discover a true No. 1 heart in some unspecified time in the future within the foreseeable future throughout his midseason media availability.
In an ideal world, the Flyers would draft that first-line heart as a homegrown participant. The issue is that Philadelphia is simply too aggressive to tank and gather the top-10 picks that maximize a group’s possibilities of drafting a 1C. The Flyers could have to resolve that want by way of the commerce market and that’s the place Pettersson may very well be a tantalizing long-term companion for Matvei Michkov.
The largest stumbling block is whether or not the Flyers have the prime belongings that the Canucks can be on the lookout for. Philadelphia is well-stocked with draft picks – proudly owning three first-rounders and three second-rounders this 12 months. On the present roster, 24-year-old Cam York may very well be intriguing as an underrated, high-quality top-four puck mover or possibly even Owen Tippett as a cost-controlled top-six sniper if the Canucks intend to flip Brock Boeser on the commerce deadline as a substitute of re-signing him to an enormous extension.
The Flyers have items to dangle and a transparent want for a participant like Pettersson – it’s completely price it for them to kick tires – however the odds that they’ll cobble collectively essentially the most engaging bundle for Vancouver seem to be a longshot.
Miller is extra possible within the Bruins’ worth vary, however Pettersson can be even higher round their franchise cornerstones.
Even when the Canucks transfer Pettersson for pennies on the greenback, the Bruins could not have the belongings or the cap area to make a deal occur. However administration must make their greatest gives to raise their heart depth.
The Bruins have their subsequent two first-round picks to supply, together with 20-year-old Matthew Poitras. Brandon Carlo may be of curiosity to a Canucks group that wants assistance on the backend. So might Pavel Zacha, who’s a pure heart, and Trent Frederic. Carlo or Zacha could need to be part of the equation, contemplating how a lot wage the Bruins must transfer out to soak up Pettersson’s cap.
If administration can get lifelike about this group’s trajectory prior to later, the Bruins might additionally kickstart a retool to filter out unhealthy contracts and acquire extra commerce belongings that may curiosity Vancouver.
The Blue Jackets’ stunning playoff push is among the greatest tales within the NHL this season. However the Jap Convention continues to be wide-open, so regardless of all of their progress, their playoff odds are only at 29 percent. Perhaps administration might change that with a giant swing for Pettersson, which might assist this group now (particularly after Sean Monahan’s damage) and sooner or later.
The Blue Jackets have a ton of cap area to work with. And bringing in Pettersson wouldn’t hamstring this group within the long-term both — Adam Fantilli has one other 12 months of his entry-level deal, and Kirill Marchenko is beneath contract at a really cheap price for one more few years. By the point these gamers are up for raises, Columbus will possible have Ivan Provorov and Erik Gudbranson, amongst others, off the books.
The Blue Jackets have two first-rounders in 2025 (their very own and the Wild’s), together with a deep prospect pool. Columbus might be able to provide the Canucks some backend help. However the ideally suited centerpiece of a return for Vancouver can be up-and-coming heart Cole Sillinger.
Colorado despatched shockwaves by the NHL with the Mikko Rantanen commerce final Friday night time. However the deal doesn’t sign a change in path for the group. The Avalanche are nonetheless all-in, and administration is planning to make use of a few of their newly-opened cap area forward of the deadline.
As a lot as Martin Necas and Jack Drury tackle areas of want, there’s room for enchancment. The group’s deadly flaw is simply how weak they’re when Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar aren’t on the ice on account of regression from key components of their supporting forged and accidents. Perhaps essentially the most evident is at 2C with Casey Mittelstadt, who’s experiencing downticks in his scoring, transition recreation, and play-driving.
Pettersson would absolutely be an improve, although it wouldn’t be straightforward for Colorado to drag off. The Avs are stocked with mid- and late-round picks within the subsequent couple of seasons however is with out a first in 2025. However possibly there’s a technique to construct a bundle round Mittelstadt to ship a middle again to Vancouver.
The cap is one other concern to navigate. Pettersson not less than is available in behind the interior cap set by MacKinnon’s contract, however would require a number of artistic accounting to suit long-term.
Jim Montgomery’s hiring has helped the Blues enhance however realistically, this group continues to be caught in limbo. St. Louis’ 5 % odds of successful the draft lottery are larger than it’s two percent chance of reaching the postseason.
The Blues’ greatest wager to alter which may be focusing on NHLers of their early-to-mid 20s as a substitute of ready for gamers to hit unrestricted free company of their late 20s and early 30s. That’s what administration did final summer time with provide sheets to Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. If Doug Armstrong can sustain his daring streak, Pettersson may very well be a super goal given the Blues’ long-term want for one more top-six heart to enrich Robert Thomas.
The Blues have to ship some wage out to make this deal work — whether or not from their considerably clunky blue line or Brandon Saad’s contract that was placed on waivers Tuesday. And in contrast to some potential commerce companions, the Blues don’t have a super heart to ship again. However they’ve an above-average prospect pool, their subsequent two first-rounders and a few established NHLers to construct up a return bundle.
(High picture: Michael Reaves / Getty Photographs)