Tough News For Vancouver as a Pair of Canucks Superstars Land on NHL Offseason Trade List
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A pair of Vancouver Canucks have landed on an updated version of a National Hockey League offseason trade bait list, as Patrik Allvin looks to make some noise this summer.
It could be a very busy offseason for Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford as they have a number of holes they'd like to fill on their NHL roster including their second line center position, which was was previously occupied by J.T. Miller before his trade to the New York Rangers.
In order to acquire some of the pieces they need, the Vancouver Canucks might need to move someone off their NHL roster, along with other assets such as prospects and/or their 2025 first round pick, and it looks like a pair of the club's big name players have landed on a recent trade bait list.
Thatcher Demko & Elias Pettersson land on updated trade bait list
On Tuesday, exactly one month before the NHL's Entry Draft - where action typically picks up, insider Frank Seravalli released his updated trade bait list on Daily Faceoff which features Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko and forward Elias Pettersson, who come in at 18th and 20th, respectively.
Pettersson is coming off a tough season, which included a reported feud with J.T. Miller, which was eventually made public, leading the club to explore the trade market for both players, before striking a deal in late January with the New York Rangers.
The Sundsvall, Sweden native began to turn things around in March, registering ten points in 11 games during the month before suffering a season-ending injury and once the 2024-25 campaign concluded, trade rumors ramped back up after General Manager Patrik Allvin said he'd be stupid not to listen if a team came calling about the forward's availability before his no-movement clause kicks in on July 1st.
Seravalli believes this is a really big summer for Elias Pettersson as he's able to train at full health after dealing with a knee issue last year and is curious if the Vancouver Canucks will test the market again for the Swedish forward.
"This is a massive summer for Pettersson, whether he's skating with the Canucks in October or elsewhere. He says an injury prevented a normal offseason of training last summer; the Canucks have been very clear about their disappointment on how he arrived to camp. So, ahead of a full no-trade clause kicking in on July 1, will Vancouver check his market value this summer? Will they seek to cut ties? Or will they roll the dice and hope his game rebounds to where it was two seasons ago?" Seravalli said.
As for Thatcher Demko, who has dealt with injury issues of his own over the last 12 months, he's eligible eligible to sign a contract extension on Canada Day and there's some doubt that pen will be put to paper on a new deal this summer, but the Canucks are hoping they'll be able to get something done with their star netminder.
Another wrinkle in this is the Vancouver Canucks' overall goaltending situation and the amount of depth they have in the organization with Kevin Lankinen locked up for five years, while Arturs Silovs is tying records in the Calder Cup Playoffs after recording his fourth shutout of the postseason, proving that he's ready for a full-time role in the National Hockey League.
In his article on Tuesday, Seravalli is curious if they would try to move him this summer because of the factors mentioned above and wondered if a team like the Philadelphia Flyers could be a fit, reuniting him with Rick Tocchet, his former Head Coach.
"The Canucks have an interesting dilemma on their hands. They have a talented goaltender who is one of the faces of their franchise dealing with a significant injury. He battled through it and put up respectable numbers, and looked great on some nights. But the Canucks also re-signed Kevin Lankinen to a five-year extension. And Demko's deal is up after one more. Will they try to move him? Or do they like the tandem? Demko seemed awfully loyal to coach Rick Tocchet. Wondering if a reunion in Philadelphia is possible." Servalli said.
If the Vancouver Canucks were to move one of Elias Pettersson or Thatcher Demko this summer, it's more likely the latter is dealt given that, as mentioned, the team has depth between the pipes, whereas down the middle, it's quite thin, especially with Pius Suter hitting the open market on Canada Day.
Source: Daily Faceoff/Frank Seravalli
Peterka, Karlsson, Andersson lead top 20 Trade Targets for NHL offseason
Peterka, Karlsson, Andersson lead top 20 Trade Targets for NHL offseason
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