One NHL team has separated themselves as top contenders to acquire Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
As trade rumors begin to ramp up around the National Hockey League, one insider has revealed which team would make a lot of sense for forward Elias Pettersson.
With the NHL's Olympic roster freeze quickly approaching, some teams are hoping to get deals done ahead of Wednesday, February 4th and we already saw a pretty significant trade over the weekend, with the Vegas Golden Knights acquiring Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames.
The Vancouver Canucks are also expected to be quite active on the trade market in the weeks to come, with several of their players drawing interest, including Swedish forward Elias Pettersson, who everyone is wondering if he'll be moved before the deadline for a large package that'll help the team's rebuild.
"Re Elias Pettersson: I would expect three quality pieces here coming back, a 1st round pick, a top 2 center; and then another big asset, that's kind of what you're probably looking at; it's gonna be a hefty price." David Pagnotta said during an appearance on Inside Sports.
Insider reveals which team makes a lot of sense for Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson
Even though Elias Pettersson comes with a hefty contract, with the Swedish star owed $11.6 million annually until the summer of 2032, there's still expected to be plenty of interest in him, but it remains unclear if the Canucks will be able to get a deal done before the deadline or if they'll have to wait until the offseason.
During a recent appearance on Sekeres and Price, NHL insider David Pagnotta spoke about trade rumors surrounding Elias Pettersson at the moment and mentioned that the Los Angeles Kings would make a lot of sense for the 27-year-old.
Pagnotta added that it would take a lot to move Elias Pettersson and that the Kings probably don't want to move on from forward Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke.
"I think the Kings do make a lot of sense, but there's an acquisition cost; they're not gonna trade Quinton Byfield, and I don't get the sense they have any desire to move Brandt Clarke." Pagnotta said.
The Los Angeles Kings would be a great landing spot for Elias Pettersson for a few reasons, that is if the Vancouver Canucks want to part ways with the former fifth overall pick.
If the Kings were to acquire Pettersson before 12 p.m. PT on Friday, March 6th, it would give them a massive boost down the middle to make a push for the Stanley Cup in Anze Kopitar's final year in the National Hockey League.
Moving to Los Angeles would also give Elias Pettersson the opportunity to jump back into a top line center role starting next season, the first year of the post-Kopitar era, where he could play alongside Adrian Kempe and his former Canucks teammate Andrei Kuzmenko.
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