Insider Links Red Wings to Trading for Former 102-Point Star Forward
The Detroit Red Wings are looking to be active this offseason in hopes of ending their nine-year playoff drought.
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has said he wants to be active this offseason. Ahead of the offseason beginning, NHL insider David Pagnotta links Detroit to trading for Vancouver Canucks star forward Elias Pettersson.
“The Canucks have said they prefer to keep Pettersson, but Vancouver is open to taking calls. Pettersson has a full no-movement clause that kicks in July 1 and his trade value is at a low-point, so moving him may prove to be difficult. Teams Reportedly Linked: Buffalo, Detroit, Minnesota, Ottawa, Columbus,” Pagnotta wrote.
Pettersson’s name came up in trade talks last year, but Vancouver didn’t deal him. Now, with his full no-movement clause kicking in on July 1, he could be dealt before then.
Pettersson just completed the first year of his eight-year, $92 million deal with the Canucks. After getting the massive deal, Pettersson struggled to produce offensively as his work ethic was put into question, which made his name come up in trade talks.
Last season with the Canucks, he recorded 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points in 64 games. His career-high came in the 2022-23 season as he recorded 39 goals and 63 assists for 102 points.
Canucks Leaning Towards Keeping Pettersson
Although Vancouver just locked up Pettersson to a massive deal, the Canucks could get a haul for him in a potential trade.
However, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that Vancouver is looking to keep Pettersson past July 1.
“Never say never, but all signs point to the Canucks keeping Elias Pettersson, whose full no-move clause kicks in July 1,” LeBrun wrote in his article. “The Canucks are encouraged by Pettersson’s approach this offseason. While his production over the past two years hasn’t matched his $11.6 million salary (and he’s got seven more years on his deal), there were teams monitoring that situation given how thin the UFA market is. But it sounds like Vancouver wants to keep him.”
The hope for the Canucks is that with a new coach and no distractions, Pettersson will be better next season.
Red Wings GM Wants to be Aggressive
Detroit is in the midst of a playoff drought, and Yzerman is looking to end that.
Entering the pivotal offseason, Yzerman says adding more offense is key, as well as adding more star players.
“Absolutely,” Yzerman said if the team would add a star player making more than $10 million.
Yzerman, meanwhile, says the Red Wings will look to add a star player this offseason.
“We’ve kind of felt that all along, we’re going to look at any good player — any player that can help us in any role — if there’s a player worthy of spending whatever amount on, that has an interest in playing in Detroit and fits a need for us, absolutely we would try to do that,” Yzerman said. “We’re in a different stage than we were maybe five years ago in that we have a good young nucleus of players. And if we can add to that with a prominent free agent, we’d certainly entertain that.”
