The rumor mill has been churning when it comes to the Vancouver Canucks as of late. The ongoing speculation surrounding a rift between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson was squashed by both players last week. As a result, the NHL’s holiday break was reasonably quiet.
The relative silence didn’t last long.
Sportsnet’s Iain Macintyre published an exclusive interview Monday with Canucks GM Patrik Allvin. Among the more interesting quotes in the exchange came when Allvin was asked about the potential of trading Pettersson, before his contract’s trade protection kicks in next year.
“Petey has shown up to this point that he is an extremely talented, quality player that could and should be a No. 1 centre. I believe in him. I believe that he’s capable. (But) he needs to mature and understand that there are certain expectations and it does not get easier. And you need to face the music when things don’t go well. Is it (a trade) possible? I guess I would say anything is possible.”
So, in keeping with the spirit of unlimited possibilities, it is time to explore the potential of the Maple Leafs trading for Pettersson before the trade deadline. Admittedly, with Toronto’s contracts and draft capital, making a trade that satisfies both sides would be challenging.
But in the famous words of a howling Kevin Garnett: Anything is possible! So here are some hypothetical (if not farfetched) trades the Leafs could make with Vancouver to acquire Pettersson.
Trade 1: Mitch Marner for Elias Pettersson, one-for-one
The Leafs have been relatively quiet regarding Mitch Marner’s future in Toronto. Marner is a polarizing star amongst the Leafs’ faithful. Though his skill cannot be questioned, he is often maligned for contributing to the team’s lack of playoff success. Could trading the 27-year-old star winger for the 26-year-old star centre work for both teams?
Marner is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this season, and his current no-movement clause (NMC) means that any transaction would require his approval. Vancouver would also likely require Marner to agree to sign long-term with the Canucks.
While there’s no reason to think Marner would have any motivation to allow a trade, for argument’s sake, it could be a good fit for both teams. With Auston Matthews’ lingering injuries, another star centre could be ideal. A one-for-one deal between the two young stars could also provide an equal opportunity for both contentious stars to get a fresh start.
Trade 2: Morgan Rielly and a 2025 second-round pick (from Florida) for Pettersson
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli recently stated that the Canucks are actively in the market for a top-4 defenceman. Specifically, the Canucks are looking for “a defenceman to fulfill some of the needs that we’ve talked about all season long, that efficient puck mover,” Seravalli told Sportsnet 650.
Toronto may have the perfect fit for Vancouver in Morgan Rielly. There is no denying Rielly’s offensive skills on the blue line. If the Canucks are looking for the offensive defenceman archetype, they would be hard-pressed to find a better candidate. It’s unlikely the Canucks would accept a one-for-one deal, but throwing in a second-round pick could sweeten the pot just enough to get a deal done. The $4.1 million difference in salaries would also require the Leafs to make additional moves to stay under the salary cap.
Like with Marner, Rielly’s NMC would require his approval for a trade to happen. Unlike Marner, Rielly was born in Vancouver and played amateur hockey in western Canada in the WHL. So it’s not the craziest idea that Rielly could approve a deal to the Canucks. A potential pairing of Rielly and Quinn Hughes or Rielly and Filip Hronek could be a force on the ice.
Trade 3: Matthew Knies and two first-round picks (2026 & 2027) for Pettersson
This probably isn’t an ideal package for the Canucks, who are in win-now mode. Matthew Knies is only 22 years old, but has major potential. He was called out by Leafs coach Craig Berube last week for his recent play.
Knies’ slump could be related to a brutal hit by Zach Whitecloud of the Vegas Golden Knights on November 20th. The hit left Knies with what was believed to be a concussion and caused him to miss two games. His play has not been quite the same since returning, but with time, there is reason to believe he will find his form again.
Knies is still in prospect territory and in the final year of his entry-level contract. While the Canucks are not looking to sacrifice the present for the team’s future, a top prospect and the Leafs’ two highest draft picks available could be used as currency for an additional trade.
The deal would also require major cap management on the Leafs’ part. However, the full extent of Auston Matthews’ injury is still unknown. If LTIR becomes a possibility, then the Leafs would have time to create a solution.
Any or all of these pieces could be enough to acquire a pending free-agent defenceman from another team. Perhaps K’Andre Miller from the Rangers or Ivan Provorov from Columbus? Knies and a future first-round pick could be enticing enough to make a deal Vancouver wants.
Are any of these trades likely? No. Are they possible? As Allvin stated about Pettersson, anything is possible. Either way, crafting potential trades is always a fun exercise for hockey fans until the deadline on March 7th.
