According to Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets board released earlier today, Vancouver Canucks centreman Elias Pettersson is still a top candidate to be traded following the J.T. Miller exchange.
Compiled by Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli, the list “seeks to blend a player’s prominence with his likelihood of a trade,” highlighting those who may be on the block.
Rounding out the list at number 30 is Pettersson, who, in the absence of Miller, is now expected to get his game up or get out, writes Seravalli:
“Pettersson is on the clock. With J.T. Miller traded, GM Patrik Allvin made it clear in no uncertain terms that Pettersson needs to be better – and that expectations have not been met. There are no excuses left. His production ticked up in the weeks that Miller was absent from Vancouver’s lineup, but even that wasn’t necessarily at the level of an $11.6 million player. If ‘Petey’ doesn’t play like ‘Petey’ again, prepare for him to be traded prior to his full ‘no-trade’ clause kicking in on July 1 – and before this deadline isn’t out of the realm of possibility.”
The 26-year-old has seven years remaining on his $11.6 million AAV contract, a large number that teams may now be more willing to take on following last week’s announcement of coming increases to the salary cap.
Vancouver has been a hot topic in the NHL for weeks with a reported rift between Pettersson and Miller, which was later confirmed by Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford.
Canucks President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford, said to the Globe and Mail, “It certainly appears like there’s no good solution that would keep this group together.”
Miller was listed at No. 1 on the Trade Targets board two weeks ago before finally being dealt to the New York Rangers on Friday. Pettersson also came in at No. 30 on that list.
With the Canucks still two points out of a wild card spot, Vancouver may continue to make more roster changes in the coming weeks before the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline.
