Canucks Trade Rumors: 5 Teams Linked to Elias Pettersson

Time is ticking for the Vancouver Canucks and a big decision on Elias Pettersson. His full no-move clause kicks in on July 1st, so if they're going to pull the trigger on a deal, there's less than three weeks to make it happen.

Pettersson had a troubling year, to say the least, in Vancouver. Playing in the first season of his 8-year, $92.8 million contract ($11.6M AAV), the Swedish center had the worst campaign of his career, with his production plummeting from 102 points two years ago, and 89 points in 2023-24, to just 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 64 games.

The Canucks are open to taking calls on Pettersson, as noted by insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, but he says that Vancouver is not willing to sell "low" on him. "It does not sound like the price tag has changed much, if at all, so a team will have to pay up to pry him out of B.C.," Pagnotta wrote recently.

Which teams are interested in trading for Elias Pettersson?

He lists five teams as being linked to the 26-year-old:

Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue Jackets
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Ottawa Senators

The Sabres already made one big move at center this past season, shipping out Dylan Cozens to Ottawa in exchange for Josh Norris. But more shakeups are on the way this summer. Pettersson would be a huge move.

The Blue Jackets have a ton of cap space to work with, and are looking to make a big move to improve their offense, having recently been linked to a pursuit of UFA Mitch Marner. If that falls through, perhaps they take a swing at Pettersson.

Trading for a second-line center is one of the offseason priorities for the Red Wings. Whether Pettersson is a 2C or a 1C moving forward (a 3C??) remains to be seen, but he could be a big addition to the team's offense if he regains his touch.

The Wild finished in the bottom third of the league in goals-per-game for the third straight year, so to say they're looking to add scoring this summer would be an understatement.

The Senators seem like they're set with their top three centers, with Tim Stutzle, the aforementioned Cozens and Shane Pinto, so seeing them get in on the Pettersson thing would be a surprise.