LA Kings reportedly double their interest to acquire Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images.
A Western Conference team has reportedly increased their interested in Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson as rumors circulate about his future with the club.
With less than a week until the NHL's Olympic roster freeze concludes, trade rumors are beginning to heat back up around the league ahead of the deadline, which is only 17 days away.
It's expected to be a pretty busy period for the Vancouver Canucks amid the club's plans to rebuild, which could include moving on from forward Elias Pettersson, if Patrik Allvin is able to find a team that the Sundsvall native is comfortable waiving his no-movement clause for.
"Obviously, every club in the National Hockey League has untouchables, but management of the Vancouver Canucks is now using the rebuild word, so they have to be open for business, open for just about anything, and that might include finally trading Elias Pettersson. Now, we know that there's been a ton of speculation from a media perspective on Pettersson's future with the Vancouver Canucks. That was more into the off-season, more last season than to this point." TSN's Darren Dreger said last month.
Western Conference team reportedly increases their interest in Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson
There are a number of teams that would love to get their hands on Elias Pettersson, whether it be the Buffalo Sabres or Carolina Hurricanes, two clubs he's been linked to periodically over the last year.
While a move to the Eastern Conference is something that the Vancouver Canucks would probably prefer, if they are to trade Elias Pettersson, it looks like one of their division rivals might enter the race to acquire him ahead of the deadline.
In a recent article for The Province, Ben Kuzma reports that the Los Angeles Kings have increased their interest in Elias Pettersson after Kevin Fiala suffered an injury with Team Switzerland at the Olympics that'll keep him out for the remainder of the regular season.
"Their interest in Elias Pettersson increased with the Swede’s two-goal game Saturday for Sweden in the Olympics, plus the Kings have $15 million in cap space." Kuzma said.
The Kings don't exactly have the assets Vancouver wants for their rebuild, with no real top prospects aside from goaltender Carter George, who despite him having a great season in the Ontario Hockey League, wouldn't really fit in the Canucks organization given the logjam they have between the pipes.
This could lead the Kings to get creative, perhaps they give up their 2026 first round pick and a second round pick, along with one of their younger players already on their NHL rosters such as 24-year-old winger Alex Laferriere, who is on pace to set a new career-high in goals after putting up 19 last season.
Also read on Vancouver Hockey Daily :
Team Sweden head coach doesn't hold back on Elias Pettersson’s Olympic performance so far
Team Sweden head coach doesn't hold back on Elias Pettersson’s Olympic performance so far
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily