Could the Maple Leafs reunite two Swedish stars in Toronto?
There could be a new Swedish connection in Toronto if a David Pagnotta report is to be believed as Elias Pettersson is reportedly still being made available.
It would be a frustrating season for Canucks fans to say the very least. Not only is the team struggling mightily in the standings but also traded Quinn Hughes away in a blockbuster deal that signalled things were going in a different direction.
He isn't the only name who has been thrown around the trade block when it comes to Vancouver as Kiefer Sherwood has been front and center of many rumors over the past couple of months and it seems like it's only a matter of time before he's dealt.
Pettersson in play? Vancouver listening to offers
But there could be another player on the market who could draw considerable attention and certainly help Vancouver accelerate their rebuild.
According to a report from Darren Dreger on TSN's Insider Trading, the Canucks are still making Swedish forward Elias Pettersson available in a trade and while they haven't mentioned a potential deal to Pettersson -- they are still feeling things out:
I can tell you that there's been no communication with the agent who represents Elias Pettersson, Pat Brisson, and they would have to communicate directly with Pettersson's camp because he has the no-move clause.
But the Vancouver Canucks are listening and will listen to interest in Pettersson despite believing that if he gets a change of scenery and a new start somewhere else, he's going to thrive in a new environment.
But the Vancouver Canucks are listening and will listen to interest in Pettersson despite believing that if he gets a change of scenery and a new start somewhere else, he's going to thrive in a new environment.
That would essentially make the Canucks a completely different team going into the rest of 2026 and into 2027 and there may be some more growing pains as the team finally learns to come together after so many pieces have been moved in and out.
If Toronto mortgages their future, they can add a true superstar
But it's also a great sign for teams like the Maple Leafs, who could definitely use a spark in their top-six and adding Pettersson to the mix would do exactly that.
Pettersson, 27, has 485 points in 509 games so far into his career and while he struggled last season, he's picked it up this year despite the team's struggles and he's already got a 100+ point season under his belt.
Putting him alongside William Nylander would give the Maple Leafs a Swedish 1-2 punch that could be elite and offer a ton of versatility. Pettersson and John Tavares can swap between wing and center and Nylander can use the chemistry he has with his fellow countryman to thrive.
The issue of course then becomes who gets dealt, and it would be likely that Easton Cowan is going to the Canucks. We may also see Ben Danford in the mix, and Toronto will use their last first-rounder to bring in a superstar like Pettersson.
But you'll have him for a long time, and he very well could be motivated in Toronto and become that 100+ point player again. Even if not, a 75-80 point pace for Pettersson would fit perfectly in with the Maple Leafs' win-now timeline.
Though whether or not Vancouver even decides to move him is a whole different story.
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