The NHL's regular season is almost over, and with it, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves on the outside looking in yet again. This time around, though, things feel different. The rebuild leeway isn't what it used to be anymore. Excuses are dwindling, as is patience among fans. If this offseason doesn't result in fundamental change, fans may very well call for general manager Steve Yzerman's job.
The rumor mill, it seems, is in full swing. This newest piece from NHL Trade Rumors focuses around the fit between The Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson. This is the second time this week that an NHL analyst has suggested the Red Wings trade for a top center. This trade in particular, however, is quite different from the Nico Hischier proposal: the context being, of course, Elias Pettersson's $11.5M a year cap hit.
How Elias Pettersson would fit with Red Wings
"From my perspective as an NHL analyst, the connection between the Detroit Red Wings and the Vancouver Canucks makes perfect hockey sense," writes analyst Dave Jenkins. "The “Yzerplan” has patiently accumulated assets and cap space, but patience among the fanbase is wearing thin. Adding a true number-one center shifts Dylan Larkin to a more comfortable, matchup-driven role and instantly revitalizes a stagnant top six."
In Pettersson's last two seasons, the center has managed just 51 and 45 point campaigns, respectively. His production fell off a cliff during very public disputes with former center J.T. Miller. Now, Pettersson centers the last-place Canucks, who appear to be on the cusp of a very long rebuild.
Elias Pettersson's last 5 seasons | Production |
|---|---|
2021-22 | 32G 36A 68P 80GP |
2022-23 | 39G 63A 102P 80GP |
2023-24 | 34G 35A 89P 82GP |
2024-25 | 15G 30A 45P 64GP |
2025-26 | 15G 36A 51P 73GP |
Pettersson's production has fallen off a cliff since hitting career highs in 2022-23. Still, at 27 years of age, the possibility of Pettersson bouncing back isn't out of the question. Take a look at Miller and former teammate Quinn Hughes. After leaving the Canucks, both have gone on to thrive with their respective clubs, with Miller recording 86 points in 109 games with the Rangers and Hughes recording 53 points in 48 games with the Minnesota Wild.
Jenkins believes this trade is possible for one reason in particular: salary cap maintenance. "If you’re wondering how the Red Wings could pull off a blockbuster for a premier talent, the answer lies in their meticulously managed salary cap," says analyst Dave Jenkins. "Detroit enters the 2026-27 offseason with a massive war chest [with] over $30 million in cap space."
The cost of trading for Elias Pettersson
Trading for Elias Pettersson comes at a cost in two different ways. First, in terms of dollars and cents, Pettersson is owed $11.5M per season for the next four years. With players like Simon Edvinsson and Alex DeBrincat up for extensions in that time, taking on over 10% of the salary cap for Pettersson comes at a risk.
The second (and far more concerning) risk is Pettersson's production. No matter how you look at it, trading for the Canucks center is a gamble. The hope is that he'll bounce back to his high production he had several seasons ago, but, if he doesn't, the Red Wings are on the hook for a $11.5M 55-65-point center for the next four seasons. If the Red Wings hope to contend, this is a colossal risk, especially if the Canucks don't retain any salary.
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