The Montreal Canadiens enter this offseason with expectations higher than they’ve been in years. After a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Final, general manager Kent Hughes has both the assets and flexibility to pursue impact additions as the team transitions from rebuilding to competing for a Stanley Cup.
With that in mind, one NHL insider believes a $92.8 million star center could soon find his way onto Montreal’s trade radar.
Montreal Canadiens Tied to $92.8M Trade Target
That player is Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, who is entering the third season of his eight-year, $92.8 million contract, carrying an $11.6 million cap hit. While he was signed as a 100-point franchise cornerstone, he is coming off a rough season in which he managed just 51 points and a brutal minus-30 rating.
Even after a difficult season, there’s a belief around the NHL that a change of scenery could bring out the best in Pettersson again.
Which explains why NHL insider Marco D’Amico recently linked Pettersson to the Canadiens as a potential bounce-back trade target. “To me, the most interesting trade and bounce-back candidate is Elias Pettersson. Hearing that Vancouver is open to retention (to a degree) on his deal. At 9M/9.5M with the cap rising, that would quickly become 2C money. Playing behind Suzuki would be a huge load off for him,” D’Amico pointed out.
The idea is certainly intriguing.
Rather than carrying the pressure of being the face of a franchise, Pettersson would arrive in Montreal as the second-line center behind captain Nick Suzuki. That would give the Canadiens one of the strongest center duos in the Eastern Conference while allowing Pettersson to focus more on offense and less on the heavy responsibilities that came with being Vancouver’s top star.
D’Amico also suggested a larger package could help make the finances work. “A two birds, one stone kind of move that allows you to move Brendan Gallagher the other way to offset cap. While offering some futures (1st, prospect, young roster player) to make it all work?”
While concerns about Pettersson’s recent production and overall fit are understandable, D’Amico pointed to another factor that could make Montreal especially appealing. “All I can say is, many folks across the league that I’ve spoken to say the same thing: Ivan Demidov could supercharge his career,” he added.
Of course, completing a trade would be far from simple.
If Vancouver retains salary, it won’t come cheap. Retaining $2 million annually for the final six years of Pettersson’s deal would cost the Canucks $12 million in real money.
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Still, Montreal has the assets to make a serious offer. After its deep playoff run, the Canadiens are in a position to pursue a major addition, and Pettersson could be the type of move that elevates them from contender to Cup threat.
Retaining $2Mx6 and taking on Gallagher would need a huge return. More likely would be swapping the two players and Montreal adding picks or prospects to make it work.