With the Detroit Red Wings on a three-game winning streak, their fortunes could be turning around. Are the playoffs still a possibility? Their Saturday contest against the Winnipeg Jets should serve as a good barometer for how good this team really is.
In the meantime, get caught up on the latest Red Wings news and rumors, including a link to Elias Pettersson, the revolving alternate captaincy, World Juniors, and more.
On Friday, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman suggested during an episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast that the Vancouver Canucks have had conversations about trading forward Elias Pettersson. The Fourth Period followed that up with a note that the “Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders are just a few of the clubs believed to have interest in Pettersson.”
There are a few things to unpack here. Friedman noted that the Canucks are “listening” and that they’re not actively seeking out a deal. In addition, it’s unclear whether Detroit’s interest was a phone call to see what’s going on or something deeper. Frankly, all NHL teams should be reaching out to Canucks GM Patrik Allvin to touch base on his plans for Pettersson.
But since this is being reported, it’s worth diving into it a little more.
Pettersson is in the first year of an eight-year deal that comes with an $11.6 million cap hit. This is substantially more than the $5.7 million the Red Wings currently have in cap space. Any trade would have to come with roughly $6 million in salary going back to Vancouver.
Additionally, Vancouver should have zero interest in retaining salary if they choose to move the star forward. And on that note, they’re not pressed to move the forward. He’s not a pending free agent and they’re happy to keep him and J.T. Miller in place if need be.
In a Q&A with @imacSportsnet, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin says he expects more from Elias Pettersson in the new year. pic.twitter.com/s5V7XWlX8P
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 31, 2024
And finally, Friedman shared that Jack Eichel would be a solid comparable in terms of star talent being potentially available. It should be noted, though, that Eichel was dealing with a significant neck injury prior to his trade to the Vegas Golden Knights and he and the Sabres were at odds about how it should be treated. Given this, it’s reasonable to expect that any…
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