The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston and Julian Mackenzie talking about the Vancouver Canucks and Elias Pettersson. That, despite him not really performing up to his large contract, teams would still be interested in acquiring him.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Mackenzie: “The one player in Vancouver I’m really intrigued about I’ve asked about it before, and I want to bring him up again, but, but Elias Patterson. Second year of an eight-year deal with an $11.6 million cap hit.
In theory, yeah, I can understand why you’d want to move on from this player. The question is, who’s going to take on this contract at where it’s at right now? I’m very intrigued at teams who might be interested in that player. When he’s at his game, one of the best players in the league. But he hasn’t looked like that, right?
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Johnston: “He hasn’t, but, you know, the one thing that Canucks are mindful of is that he’s the kind of guy that leaves, gets a new start, and has a, you know, takes off, and then everyone’s like, why would you just give him away? So I, I, you’re right for all the reasons that are right in front of us, that’s a tough, tough guy to move.
You know, I wonder what the Carolina Hurricanes, though, you know, they did have discussions on, on Pettersson last year and, and I think would be looking for some, some more impact players in their roster. And, you know, probably have a belief that if you plug them into their system and give them that fresh start and surround them with the players they have there in the environment they have there, that it could work. So, you know, that’s just to name one team.
You know, there, there are other teams out there. You know, the LA Kings are losing Anze Kopitar at the end of the year. Wonder about a fit there. I could see the Detroit Red Wings having interest in someone like Petterson. I just don’t know that the Canucks are going to be able to garner from any of those teams the kind of return that makes it make sense.
And you know, they’re not at a stage where they feel they have to move this guy, but they’re, they’re listening on everyone. I mean, that’s, that’s what comes through in Rutherford’s comments to Patrick Johnson, is that, you know, they are, there’s not, there’s no conversation they’re not open to having. It doesn’t mean they’re going to doesn’t mean they’re going to take action on everything, but I think that they have to. They have to consider all, all potential avenues as they look to basically get a high draft pick this year and re, rebuild for the years down the road.
So, you know, it’s too bad how things have gone for Petterson, because I think his values already diminished from where it was a year ago when these comments, or, sorry, when that, this contract was first kind of being dangled out there and, and, yeah, it’s, he’s not the asset he once was.
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But come on, look at his look at his history. I mean, it’s hard not to wonder that doesn’t usually just disappear. But, you know, I don’t know. I don’t think anyone has an easy answer also, what you know, why things have turned out as they have for him. So you know, he’ll, he’ll be reflected pretty well on the next trade board when it comes out, because it is a big name, but it’s, it’s a massive contract, and I think there’s risk involved, for anyone who looks at at seriously bringing him in
Mackenzie: “Three three years ago, Elias Patterson was a 100 point player. Two years ago, he was in the 30 goal plateau. In fact, he had three consecutive seasons where he was able to do that. If there’s a player who, if you’re GM, you’re hoping he finds a way to get back. Like I get why you would look at Elias Patterson and hope that he gets back. It’s just good luck to moving on from that contract.
Johnston: “And remember, it’s hard to get impact centers and trades. Like usually, you have to be trading for somewhat diminished assets to do it.
….
You know, if Nazem Kadri ends up waving his no-move clause and moving. Someone like Brayden Schenn in St Louis. I mean, these are centermen that could be had. Maybe Ryan O’Reilly, although with the Predators playing as well as they have of late, that becomes less and less likely.
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But there’s not an abundance of players that you would drop in your top six of the center that can even be possibly traded for at this point in time. But you know the fact that Patterson’s one of them, I think that’s why teams will take a long, hard look at at least considering if it makes sense.”
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