Hockey Trade Rumours: Vancouver Canucks rumored to trade superstar forward to the Pittsburgh Penguins

One of the more juicy trade rumors that have fans talking involves a star forward going to the Penguins in exchange for a good defenseman and a second-round pick coming the other way.

That would be the Vancouver Canucks trading Elias Pettersson for Marcus Pettersson along with a second-round draft pick.

It's an impact trade for each organization, as both the Penguins and Canucks would be getting pieces that help now and in the future.

What the level of skill and grind for the offense would be on the Penguins with Elias Pettersson on the team is exceptional.

As such, with his dynamic playmaking, strong hockey IQ, and elite scoring ability, Pettersson could be the ideal complement for the aging Pittsburgh core of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

He could add another potent offensive weapon that may extend the playoff window in Pittsburgh, fitting in seamlessly into their top six forwards while maybe even setting up as a foundational piece for the post-Crosby era.

The ability to make plays at an elite pace and produce in clutch moments would make him an extremely valuable asset to the Penguins lineup.

Marcus Pettersson would, in turn, provide some much-needed stability to the Vancouver blue line.

While not offensively talented like Elias, Marcus Pettersson is a reliable, defensively responsible defenseman who could immediately bolster the Canucks' back end.

He would bring reach, sound positioning, and penalty killing to help stabilize a young, developing team.

This trade also continues to open salary cap space for the Canucks as they look to build out other areas of their roster in work toward being a competitive force within the Western Conference.

The Penguins probably win this in terms of pure talent, adding in a high-end forward in Elias Pettersson, but the Canucks would also add in a good defensive piece and an extremely valuable draft pick, giving them some assets moving forward while filling a key roster void.

In the short term, it's a benefit to Pittsburgh. Long-term, though, if Vancouver uses the pick wisely and Marcus Pettersson stabilizes, the Canucks may win out.

Certainly, the deal could be a win-win, with the immediate edge given to Pittsburgh by virtue of Elias Pettersson's upside on offense.