Canucks beat out offers from Oilers and Vegas in trade with Penguins

In case you missed it last week, the Vancouver Canucks completely remade their roster with two blockbuster trades.

The biggest trade, of course, came when the Canucks finally, mercifully traded star forward JT Miller to the New York Rangers for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Canucks then flipped that 1st round pick along with forward Danton Heinen and defenseman Vincent Desharnaisto to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor. Yesterday, the Canucks locked up M. Pettersson to a six year contract extension. Now, the team will reportedly set its sights on re-signing O'Connor.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the Canucks' plan is to sign O'Connor, a pending free agent, after having fought off the likes of the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights in order to acquire him. 

From Friedman's latest 32 Thoughts for Sportsnet:

With their two trades, the Canucks look like a different team. Remodelled defence; the entire group quicker both on their skates and moving the puck. For different reasons than Miller, Filip Chytil needed his own fresh start. The Canucks outwrestled Western rivals Edmonton and Vegas (among others) for Drew O’Connor, and will attempt to extend him, too.

- Elliotte Friedman

The 26 year old O'Connor is a spark plug of a 3rd/4th liner whose job is to get in on the forecheck and turn over pucks for his linemates. He has seven goals and 17 points in 55 games this season following a stellar 16 goal, 33 point last season for the Penguins.