It certainly wasn’t the showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off that Vancouver Canucks were hoping for out of their number one centreman.
Finally, Elias Pettersson had the chance to play with his country’s best players. In three games, the Swede didn’t register a single point and just two shots on net. Not only did he struggle to produce, but he struggled to find ice time by the end of the tournament.
As we get back into the swing of the regular season, with the Canucks fighting to maintain a playoff spot, how can the team put Pettersson in the best possible scenario to succeed?
Internally, the team has some pieces that can fit nicely on the centreman’s wing. That said, there’s also always room to upgrade. 
Let’s take a look at three internal fits as well as three players the Canucks could look to bring in to play alongside Pettersson.

Internal fits

This season, Pettersson’s been at his best alongside Conor Garland. According to Money Puck advanced stats, the two most effective lines Pettersson has been a part of this season in expected goals percentage include Garland.
The Massachusetts native is a workhorse who has proven he can create for his linemates from below the goal line. Think back to Pettersson’s first goal this season; hard work from Garland and a nice pass earned Pettersson his first of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Garland might not be the ideal player for a team hoping to contend for a cup to have on their top line, but if it means helping the franchise centreman produce offensively, then it may be something the Canucks should look to go back to.
The next player who should be an obvious fit for Pettersson is the man the team brought in this off-season to fill the much-needed top-six winger role. Jake DeBrusk has spent most of the season playing alongside Pettersson already, and for good reason. DeBrusk is leading the team in goals, just recently passing the 20-goal mark. Pettersson’s lack of shooting this season shows that he needs to be paired with someone who can put the puck in the back of the net.
Of course, Brock Boeser could also be that guy, but DeBrusk brings a little more speed to a line with Pettersson. DeBrusk’s speed allows him to get in on the forecheck, which is something Pettersson needs from his linemates. His 21 goals on the season also show that he can get to dirty areas and score some of those greasier goals. Pettersson’s ability to playmake makes this an obvious fit, with DeBrusk being the forechecking finisher and Pettersson being the setup man in finding soft spots in the offensive zone to create enough space for himself to make a play.
Now the third fit that we think deserves exploring is something we haven’t seen the Canucks try much yet. Of course, Kiefer Sherwood has been good on Pettersson’s wing, but for the same reason, Drew O’Connor could be a great fit as well.
O’Connor has a ton of speed and plays the game hard. On top of that, he also has that scoring touch needed to play with a playmaker like Pettersson. Last season, O’Connor had 16 goals playing just over 15 minutes per night. If O’Connor were to get more consistent top-six minutes, he could see a jump in his production and help Petey boost his numbers as well.
Now, let’s move on to the trade market. Frank Seravalli recently updated his Trade Targets board ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7, 2025. Who could the Canucks bring in play on Petey’s wing?

Acquiring fits

Number 12 on Frank’s board could make a lot of sense for Vancouver in Rickard Rakell. Rakell has three more years remaining after this one on his contract and is a fellow countryman of Elias Pettersson. Also, his $5 million cap hit is very affordable for a player who currently has 49 points in 58 games. Rakell is a creative offensive winger who could open up some space for Pettersson. Their skill sets combined could make a very dangerous duo in the offensive zone. 
We move slightly down the board to number 14, Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken. Bjorkstrand has an extra year on his deal and a cap hit of $5.4 million. The Danish sniper has five seasons with 20 or more goals and is on pace for another 20-plus goal season. Like DeBrusk, playing alongside Bjorkstrand could bring out Pettersson’s playmaking ability with his scoring touch. Bjorkstrand could complement the Canucks top-six on Pettersson’s right side.
The final option is likely expensive and not listed on Frank’s trade board. Jiri Kulich of the Buffalo Sabres could be a great fit on Pettersson’s wing. Kulich’s size, speed and skill are not easy to come by in this league, which is why the price would be so high, that being said he could be worth the cost.
The 20-year-old Czechia winger currently has 11 goals in 41 games in his rookie campaign. His size and speed make him a great forechecker, and his 11 goals put him on a 20-plus goal 82-game pace. This shows that he has a snack for scoring, considering this is just his first season of NHL hockey. He also would still be on his ELC for two more years following this season, which with a minimal cap hit, would give the Canucks even more flexibility in the upcoming off-season.
It’s clear that Pettersson hasn’t been himself this season. With this being the first year of his $11.6-million deal it’s been a major talking point amongst everyone across the NHL. So, is this something that can be solved internally? Put him with the right guys they already have, and he’ll find a way to produce. Or does the team need to look elsewhere to find a player that complements Petey’s game and adds a little more offence to the top six? 
It could also be the other option. Does the team need to move on from Pettersson and risk a change of scenery to help him reach that superstar potential Canucks fans know he has?
Tell us what you think in the comment section below Canucks fans!
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