How the Elias Pettersson trade could be revisited amid drama in Vancouver

Things aren’t great for the Canucks in Vancouver at this time and it always leads to trade rumours and speculations. Earlier this month, insider Elliotte Friedman spoke about a rift between Vancouver’s top forwards, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller and clearly, it could be what is messing with the entire dressing room at this point in the season. It was believed that both players had put everything in the past, but at this time, you have to wonder if that’s all true.

“The Canucks had thought it was solved last year,” Friedman recently said. “The team had a great year, the two players had a great year and they thought they had moved past this. Obviously that wasn’t the case.”

This prompted Ryan Henkel of the Hockey News to strongly encourage the Carolina Hurricanes to take advantage of the bad situation in Vancouver. Last season, Friedman had reported that a trade offer was made to the Canucks by the Canes, looking to acquire Pettersson.

“According to multiple sources, the Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes had discussions about Elias Pettersson that advanced to a stage where both the Canucks and the player needed to make serious decisions about where their relationship was headed,” said Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman back in February. “The Canucks ultimately decided in favour of another attempt at extending Pettersson, and he, facing the possibility Vancouver could move him, allowed agents Pat Brisson and JP Barry to resume negotiations.”

At the time, Pettersson was a pending restricted free agent and the Canucks did listen to what Carolina had to offer. Thomas Drance and Rick Daliwhal were adamant that the Hurricanes’ offer was serious and could have been completed.

The team reporters claimed the offer included a pair of roster players, a first-round pick and an additional high-end prospect.

“More serious than people realize.”

With the drama in Vancouver, there is a sense that Pettersson could be looking to move or be moved and Henkel wants the Hurricanes to make the offer again.

“So why doesn’t Carolina pop back in and see what the price may be?”

Who knows? It could happen especially if Vancouver does not right the ship shortly.