January 31, 2025 | 11:50pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANUCKS ACQUIRE PETTERSSON, O’CONNOR FROM PENGUINS

Marcus Pettersson, defenceman

The Vancouver Canucks have acquired defenceman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, defenceman Vincent Desharnais, the rights to unsigned prospect Melvin Fernstrom and a 2025 conditional first-round draft pick, acquired earlier in the evening from the New York Rangers.

“We wish both Danton and Vinny all the best in Pittsburgh and thank them for their contributions this season,” said Canucks GM Patrik Allvin. “We are really happy to add to the depth of our team with the acquisitions of Marcus and Drew. Marcus has good size, reach, and makes solid decisions with the puck while Drew is an intelligent player with versatility and a bigger frame.”

Pettersson, 28, has appeared in 47 games for Pittsburgh this season, recording three goals and 15 assists for 18 points and 25 penalty minutes.

In 491 career games, split between Pittsburgh and Anaheim, Pettersson has accumulated 17 goals and 134 assists for 151 points, 294 penalty minutes, and a +77 plus/minus rating.

The Skelleftea, Sweden native was originally selected by the Ducks in the second-round, 38th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft.

O’Connor, 26, has played in 53 games for the Penguins this season, accumulating six goals and 10 assists for 16 points and 16 penalty minutes.

In 210 career NHL games, all spent with Pittsburgh, O’Connor has registered 30 goals and 36 assists for 66 points and 54 penalty minutes.

“Tonight’s trade continues to move us in the direction set one year ago which is to continue to add young prospects, young players, and draft capital to the Penguins as we chart our course to return the club back into contention as urgently as possible,” said Penguins GM Kyle Dubas. “We are pleased to add Danton Heinen back to the Penguins and Vincent Desharnais to the club and look forward to seeing both in uniform in the coming days. The addition of Melvin Fernstrom also gives us a prospect that was highly regarded at the 2024 NHL Draft, and the Rangers’ first-round draft pick provides us with another strong asset that we can use to acquire an elite young player in the draft or via trade.”

Heinen previously played for Pittsburgh from 2021-23. Heinen has skated in parts of nine seasons in the NHL split between Boston, Anaheim, Pittsburgh and Vancouver and has tallied 93 goals and 136 assists for 229 points in 537 career games.

This season, Heinen has registered six goals, 11 assists and 17 points in 50 games with Vancouver.

Heinen established a career high in goals (18) and power-play goals (3) as a member of the Penguins in 2021-22. His career-high assist and point totals were set with the Bruins in 2017-18, tallying 31 helpers and 47 points that season.

The Langley, British Columbia native was originally drafted in the fourth-round (116th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft by Boston.

Desharnais is in his third NHL season and has tallied three assists in 34 games with Vancouver.

In 148 career NHL games with Vancouver and Edmonton, Deshairnais has picked up one goal and 18 assists and 19 points.

The Laval, Quebec native was originally drafted by Edmonton in the seventh-round (183rd overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Fernstrom, 18, is currently playing overseas with Orebro HK of the SHL, Sweden’s top professional league. He was drafted by Vancouver in the third-round (93rd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft.