Elias Pettersson is still expected to be on the trade block this summer, but if he is moved, according to Elliotte Friedman, it's under one specific condition.
The 2024-25 season was full of drama and struggles for the Vancouver Canucks, meaning that it came as absolutely no surprise when the team traded J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers to break up the duo of Miller/Elias Pettersson.
However, that doesn't mean Pettersson is safe in Vancouver, with some reports in Vancouver surfacing that he could still be on the trade block this summer, but many reporters have warned that making a bad deal could be catastrophic for this organization.
"I know people don't believe in [Pettersson] anymore, but if you make a bad trade you're cooked. You might be cooked already, but you definitely are if you make a bad trade."
A potential trade is a topic that Elliotte Friedman recently discussed on the "32 Thoughts" podcast.
Elliotte Friedman reveals the one condition that could convince the Canucks to trade Elias Pettersson
Friedman stated that the only way this team would likely want to move EP40 is if a deal came along that helped fix their center position.
"I just feel Vancouver is only trading Elias Pettersson if it helps solve their center problem. That's the only way I see them doing it."
That likely means that the Canucks would be wanting NHL-ready players in return for Pettersson, and given his struggles over the last 12 months, there may not be many teams around the NHL willing to do that in a deal for him right now.
In July, the talented center will see his no-trade clause kick in, so from there, he will have the power over where he ends up in the future. While there's still a chance he may get moved before that point, right now, it's not looking likely.
