The Vancouver Canucks are expected to be busy once the NHL’s Olympic trade freeze lifts Sunday night, even if nothing is imminent.
According to Thomas Drance of The Athletic, Vancouver does not currently have a deal lined up to be announced when the freeze ends at 8:59 p.m. PT. That said, the club is described as a “motivated seller,” with trade discussions expected to intensify throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
With the March 6 trade deadline fast approaching, there is talk that a number of teams have trades in the hopper, ready to be announced once the NHL allows clubs to conduct business again.
Several Canucks have resurfaced in league chatter — most notably Elias Pettersson and Evander Kane.
Kane has nine goals and 25 points this season, and while his underlying numbers suggest he can still drive offense, contenders may be hesitant to pay for inconsistent production. There’s also speculation that, if no trade materializes, more creative solutions — including contract termination — could be explored, though nothing concrete has been reported.
What’s the latest on Elias Pettersson?
Pettersson, meanwhile, is still being discussed in trade chatter. Over the Olympic break, there was talk that Los Angeles could view him as a potential replacement for injured winger Kevin Fiala. Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times and Ben Kuzma of The Province both noted increased Kings interest.
However, Pettersson’s limited usage in Sweden’s 2–1 overtime loss to the United States, just nine minutes, with no shifts after the second period, likely posed questions for NHL teams that might have been looking at him. If he’s dealing with an injury of some kind, teams will be hesitant. But, if he’s healthy and he just wasn’t being played, how will he step up in the playoffs if he doesn’t step up on the biggest international stage there is?
If Vancouver were to seriously entertain moving him, Pettersson would need to waive his no-move clause.
Beyond the headline names, pending unrestricted free agents Teddy Blueger and David Kämpf could represent the Canucks’ most realistic trade chips. Both have played significant roles for their national teams at the Olympics and profile as defensive depth centres attractive to contenders.
With the freeze ending Sunday and the deadline looming, Vancouver’s direction should come into sharper focus quickly.