Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller Trade Doors Open as Canucks Entertain Western Conference Offers, per Insider
The Vancouver Canucks appear to be taking another step forward in trade talks surrounding J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, as they're entertaining offers.
The Vancouver Canucks are in a very fragile part of their season. Currently sitting second in the Western Conference wild-card position with a 19-13-10 record, their recent slide has hidden another story altogether.
And amidst that ambiguity, whispers started to surface of potential blockbuster trades. The Canucks are reportedly open to moving not just one, but both of their superstar forwards Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
Canucks willing to trade their stars to the Western Conference
What's surprising? They reportedly are willing to move them to their fellow Western Conference rivals if that return is big enough.
This from insider Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet's "Saturday Headlines," which for sure would seem to convey a sense of urgency within the Vancouver front office as the trade deadline draws ever near.
The Canucks brass does seem ready to shake some things up in their desperate bid to salvage this season.
For their part, Pettersson, fresh into the first year of an eight-year, $92.8-million contract, and Miller, in the second year of a seven-year, $56-million deal, are the cornerstones of the Canucks.
And yet, neither man had wowed their head coach, Rick Tocchet, heading into a recent 3-0 Canucks win over Toronto.
But moving either player isn't easy. A no-move clause for Pettersson kicks in on July 1, adding some urgency to a potential decision. In Miller's case, he has a full no-move clause in effect, complicating things further.
For a franchise that has teetered between playoff contention and another disappointing finish, these trade discussions really drive home just how critical the next few months could be.
The willingness of the Vancouver management to actually deal their stars within the conference could mark a turning of the corner, a bold gamble which might reshape their future for better or worse.
