January 3, 2025 | 11:57am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANUCKS LISTENING ON MILLER, PETTERSSON

 

Getty Images

Elias Pettersson, forward

 

The Vancouver Canucks aren’t about to blow up their roster by any stretch, but the drama surrounding the club, coupled with GM Patrik Allvin’s public comments this week, has heightened speculation around the organization.

In an interview with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre earlier this week, Allvin was very candid about his team’s performance this season and called out his top players for their subpar performances.

On Tuesday’s edition of “The Latest” on TFP, David Pagnotta indicated the Canucks are willing to listen on some of their top players and also, as recent history has shown, management is open to making moves well in advance of the trade deadline.

During Friday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman reported the Canucks have indeed had conversations with teams about stars J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.

“I do think they’ve talked to other teams about Pettersson. I do think they’ve talked to other (teams) about Miller,” Friedman said. “I think they prefer to keep both guys, they’ve seen what they can do. But they’re listening.”

While Friedman added that it would take a significant deal to pull the trigger on either player, he noted management won’t shy away from a major deal if one presents itself.

“These are two guys, in Allvin and (President Jim) Rutherford, who are not afraid,” he said. “But the price would be enormous.”

The New York Rangers are among the teams interested in Miller, while clubs like the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders are just a few of the clubs believed to have interest in Pettersson.

As Pagnotta reported earlier this week, the belief is Rangers centre Mika Zibanejad would be open to waiving his no-movement clause for the right situation, but those discussions have not yet occurred. Friedman did, however, discuss the possibility of a Canucks/Rangers move on Friday.

“I do think the Rangers are interested (in Miller), but I don’t know how easy that match is going to be,” Friedman said. “If Vancouver wanted to do Zibanejad, I think that could be done already – so, I’m not banking on that.”

The Canucks are believed to have interest in Rangers defencemen K’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider, but Friedman indicated he is “pretty convinced” the Rangers “wouldn’t” have interest in moving Schneider.

Pagnotta also reiterated that Vancouver remains in the market for a top-four defenceman and are looking to add one before the March 7 deadline.