Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are having trouble signing RFA Elias Pettersson. He is due for a significant raise in salary. Vancouver doesn’t have to part with Pettersson but rumors continue to persist that Detroit could consider signing Pettersson to an offer sheet. In my opinion, it would be a better situation for both teams if they could come to a trade agreement.
Elias Pettersson could be traded to Detroit for Dylan Larkin and a Detroit prospect. Detroit then could sign Pettersson to a long-term deal in the $5-6 million range. From a salary cap perspective, this deal would make both parties happy.
Pettersson is the better and younger player in this deal. Pettersson will turn 23 this year compared to Larkin who just turned 25. Pettersson has scored 153 regular season points in 165 games. Larkin has scored 289 points in 433 regular season games.
In the short term, Detroit would win this trade. The clincher would be the prospect Detroit would have to send Vancouver’s way. If the deal includes Gustav Lindstrom, I am all in. Lindstrom is a third pair defenseman at best. Instead of a prospect, the deal may also have to include a draft pick. Detroit may have to add a 2nd or 3rd round selection to Vancouver to complete this trade.
Reality: Larkin, a 2nd round pick in 2022, and a prospect are traded to Vancouver for Elias Pettersson
Final Thoughts
In the dog days of summer before training camp begins, it is always fun to guess on what trades will happen. Although Dylan Larkin will most likely remain with Detroit until at least the trade deadline in 2022, there is no doubt that there are players on other teams who may change addresses prior to training camp in September. It will be fun to see what Yzerman has up his sleeve as we get closer to opening night.