Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli just published the latest edition of his Trade Target list, and there was a Vancouver Canuck player to debut on this board for the first time in his career.
Canucks forward Elias Pettersson was ranked as Frank’s 25th trade target.
Here is what Frank had to say about Pettersson’s availability:
Scoop: The Canucks have been taking calls on Pettersson, that is no surprise, as they gauge the marketplace for him. When GM Patrik Allvin said it’s a possibility that Pettersson is moved before his full ‘no-trade’ and ‘no-move’ clauses kick in this July, that took things to another level. It’s still an incredibly difficult transaction to pull off in-season. But if someone must be on the move, it seems like it would be Pettersson, who still has value with his age and position, and the fact that Vancouver can move him unencumbered unlike J.T. Miller.
Pettersson, 26, is currently out with an undisclosed injury after leaving the last game before Christmas break after his first shift of the third period. In that game, he hit the score sheet twice, in what was his first goal in seven games and his first multi-goal of the season – his first since March 19th against the Buffalo Sabres.
The Swedish centreman is on pace for his lowest points per game total of his career, outside of his 26-game season in 2020. Pettersson has 10 goals and 18 assists on 28 points in 34 games this season. He signed an eight-year, $92.8 million contract extension ($11.6M average annual value) with the Canucks in March last season.
The Canucks currently sit fourth in the Pacific Division and are holding onto the second and final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with an 18-12-9 record and 45 points through 39 games. The club is six points out of the Edmonton Oilers for third in the division and has a narrow two-point lead on the Calgary Flames in the Wild Card.
Canucks GM Patrik Allvin will have until July if he decided to move Pettersson. After that, Pettersson’s contract has a full no-move clause for the next seven seasons of his deal. The NHL Trade Deadline is March 7th, so an in-season trade would need to occur before then.
