It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. There’s just over a month until the March 7 trade deadline is upon us. However, we’ve already seen general managers role the dice with some big moves. The weekend opened with a massive blockbuster deal involving three teams. However, there could be more big swings made by general managers. One team that may make a massive trade is the Vancouver Canucks. This edition of NHL rumours deals with them possibly trading a start player to an Atlantic Division team.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Eastern Conference Team Emerges as Player to Land Canucks Forward
Rumour: In Saturday night’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman said the Buffalo Sabres have emerged as a favourite to land Elias Pettersson before the trade deadline.
Analysis: We’ve already seen teams willing to make massive deals. Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams wants to finally bring in a superstar player to Buffalo. He knows that his job may be on the line, but getting Pettersson could help the Sabres start to change their fortunes.
One thing Pettersson mentioned was that the Carolina Hurricanes were working on deals for both Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Friedman even mentioned there was a time Pettersson was thought to be going to Carolina. However, those proposals fell apart and Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky got Mikko Rantanen instead.
With Carolina out of the picture, one would think talks of dealing Pettersson are likely dead. However, Friedman said the Sabres could try to get the Swedish forward to come to Western New York.
The topic of Pettersson heading to Buffalo isn’t a new one. Friedman also mentioned that it was rumoured the two teams were talking earlier in the season about a possible swap.
What It Means
Pettersson’s no-movement clause doesn’t kick in until July 1, so there’s still time for Canucks GM Patrik Allvin to deal the superstar. Allvin hasn’t been shy about making trades and he could be willing to make a big swing in this one.
One question about any hypothetical deal is about a possible return. Buffalo has struggled this season, but it does have some solid young talent on the roster. Names like Bowen Byram and Dylan Cozens could be in the mix for any trade scenario involving the two clubs.
Friedman added that he could see the Canucks interested in both Byram and Cozens. The two younger players could allow the Canucks to have some younger pieces to compliment players like Quinn Hughes and others.
However, we could see the Canucks hang onto Pettersson and move Miller instead. The latter has a full no-movement clause, but we could still see a trade involving the American forward. Carolina is out of the picture, but we have talked about other teams in previous editions of NHL rumours. A team like the Dallas Stars or New Jersey Devils could emerge to land Miller. However, there’s still a lot of time before the trade deadline.
Main photo by: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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