Two Teams Pursuing Elias Pettersson Following JT Miller Trade
Elias Pettersson may not be safe in Vancouver, and even after the J.T. Miller trade, it appears two Eastern Conference teams are still pushing hard for a trade.
The Vancouver Canucks made not one but two blockbuster trades on Friday night, and now, according to all reports, star forward Elias Pettersson remains available for the right price.
There's no guarantee that he'll be moved, but according to Elliotte Friedman, both Columbus and Buffalo are still working through their options when it comes to Pettersson, with both considered top contenders to land the 26-year old superstar.
In return, the Canucks are likely looking for a centre to play now after acquiring Filip Chytil in the deal to move J.T. Miller, and with both teams having options for that while also needing a star up front, they both make perfect sense for EP40.
Despite the struggles off the ice this season, Pettersson has put up a solid 11 goals and 33 points in 45 games, and now that he's free of the drama surrounding Miller, there's a chance that the second half could be a major return to form for the Swedish star.
Whether or not he'll ever be a consistent 100-point player in the NHL is yet to be determined, but given his size and production when he's focused, he would be the addition that both teams are looking for, especially for the Blue Jackets who appear ready to make a Stanley Cup Playoffs push in 2024/25.
Ultimately, anything could happen here, with Pettersson potentially on the move or the team could make him unavailable and continue to build around him, but given the role he played in the Miller drama, the team may be more intent on trading him if Buffalo, Columbus or another surprise team makes the right offer.
