What an Elias Pettersson Trade to the Ducks Could Look Like

The reports out of Vancouver regarding the “rift” between the Canucks’ two most impactful forwards have been loud.

The Canucks currently hold the second-wildcard spot in the playoff race and sit in fourth place in the Pacific Division standings.

The reported personality differences between the team’s two star forwards, JT Miller and Elias Pettersson, have gotten significant attention throughout the holiday season. Further reports have indicated the Canucks are “weighing all options” when calculating how to move forward.

The “exploring all options” terminology has led to speculation regarding the availability of Pettersson and/or Miller on the trade market.

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Miller (31) has five years remaining on his contract, which has an AAV of $8 million and a full no-movement clause, rendering him difficult to trade as he can hand-select a potential destination, and the return would be minimized.

Pettersson (26), on the other hand, has seven years remaining on his contract, which has an AAV of $11.6 million and an NMC that doesn’t kick in until July 1, 2025.

The Anaheim Ducks organization is familiar with the frustrations of trade “rumors” involving a star forward, so responsible speculation is required when considering the availability of a player like Pettersson.

However, the opportunities to acquire players of Pettersson’s caliber and age are few and far between, especially for an organization like the Anaheim Ducks, who aren’t a top destination for free agents and remain on the outside of the playoff picture.

If Elias Pettersson is available, it may be in the Ducks’ best interest to inquire.

The Fit

Pettersson, like several core pieces in the Ducks organization, is a natural center but can be flexed out to the wing if the lineup requires it.

He’s as offensively gifted as they come and can attack off the rush, cycle, or power play with equal elite potency. He is among the players in the NHL with the highest hockey IQ, consistently diagnosing proper lanes, timing cutbacks, manipulating, and baiting defenders to lean one way or the other to create the most dangerous look possible.

Physically, Pettersson isn’t the most imposing, standing at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds with a somewhat awkward straight-line stride. Aside from his frame and stride, every other tool he possesses is elite. From vision to release to his hands, he’s one of the most gifted players in the world.

He’s come a long way defensively since the Canucks hired Rick Tocchet. He will rarely outmuscle an opponent but utilizes his reach to disrupt attacks and can time his pressures to cause turnovers and counter immediately.

The natural fit, from a distance, could be to pair him on a line with Leo Carlsson, a fellow countryman and potentially a forward of equal dynamism, with whom he will share a locker room at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-off.

The Cost

The only player of similar age and pedigree to Pettersson, who has been traded in recent memory, is Jack Eichel.

Through the first 375 games in his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres, Eichel scored at a .95 points-per-game pace. Through 441 games, Pettersson has scored at a pace of just under one point per game (440 points).

Eichel was traded along with a 2023 third-round pick from the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4, 2021, to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward Alex Tuch, prospect Peyton Krebs, a 2022 top-ten protected first-round pick, and a 2023 second-round pick.

The circumstances surrounding Eichel’s trade were far different than the ones potentially surrounding one involving Pettersson. Eichel had five years remaining on his contract and was set to undergo an (at the time) experimental neck/spine procedure. The uncertainty led to a seemingly diminished return for the then 25-year-old center.

Though dissimilar circumstances, Eichel’s trade can be seen as a framework for a possible Pettersson trade.

The Ducks would likely have to pay more than the Knights did, but they would likely have to part with a protected first, a second, a prospect or young rookie, and a young roster player.

The Canucks organizational depth chart is lacking in terms of U23 defensemen, an area where the Ducks have a surplus. Jackson LaCombe is the furthest in his development among Anaheim’s young blueliners, with Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov slightly further away and Stian Solberg likely a few years out.

If Vancouver is dead-set on contending this season, they may want a young center in return. Their eyes will likely be fixated on Trevor Zegras or Mason McTavish in that scenario.

The Rub

An Elias Pettersson trade could be the largest, most impactful NHL trade since Erik Karlsson was traded to the San Jose Sharks. It will come at quite a significant price if a deal is to be reached.

Pettersson is two years removed from his career year in 2022-23, where he scored 39 goals and 102 points in 80 games. In 2023-24, he scored 34 goals and 89 points in 82 games and followed it up with an underwhelming performance in the playoffs, where he tallied just six points in 13 games.

It was later revealed that he was dealing with tendonitis in his knee, potentially causing a dip in his play, and it may have lingered into the 2024-25 season. To date this season, he has 10 goals and 28 points in 34 games, a .82 points-per-game rate, and his lowest since his COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

Pettersson is currently on IR with an undisclosed injury, retroactive to Dec. 23. Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet told the media he doesn’t “think it’s too bad” and he’s “a week away” from returning to the lineup.

When considering a Pettersson trade, a team has to be sure he’s closer to the 100-point player his talent and his 2022-23 season suggests than the 77-point player he’s been outside of that season. They also have to be sure his recent bout with wear and tear won’t be a recurring saga.

All things considered, Pettersson could assist in delivering the Anaheim Ducks franchise from obscurity into contention and thrive alongside the supreme young talent in the Ducks’ organizational depth chart when they do get to the point of contending.

There comes a time in every rebuild when a team must acquire an established top-of-the-lineup talent to raise the tide for their younger potential stars. Some recent examples have been the signing of Dougie Hamilton in New Jersey or the Los Angeles Kings’ trade for Kevin Fiala. Elias Pettersson could be that very talent for the Ducks and is in the early stages of

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