Elliotte Friedman has Vancouver Canucks fans buzzing today after proposing a hypothetical trade involving Elias Pettersson.
While the trade was fictional, the Buffalo Sabres’ interest in Pettersson is not, according to a report from CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal.
“Earlier this year when Pettersson was struggling, Buffalo called Vancouver, and they talked,” Dhaliwal said this morning on Donnie and Dhali.
“The Canucks are very aggressive. They’re looking for a defenceman, prices are high.”
Bowen Byram and Dylan Cozens were the players mentioned by Friedman. Dhaliwal noted that the Canucks have liked Byram for “quite some time.” They’re also interested in Tuch, Dhaliwal said, but he’s apparently not available.
Trent Frederic is reportedly available in Boston, and the Canucks could have interest in the 6-foot-3 centre, Dhaliwal said.
“You’re hearing a lot about the Canucks out there. They’re working the phones.”
“Earlier this year when Pettersson was struggling Buffalo called Vancouver and they talked..”@DhaliwalSports shares what he is hearing about the #Canucks and possible trade activity.https://t.co/h4e2SKM7eJ pic.twitter.com/GFr24X0OD7
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) December 16, 2024
As for Friedman’s proposed trade, the NHL insider confirmed that he was just “spitballing.”
He did say he thinks the Canucks and Sabres have been talking trade though.
“I think the two teams have talked to each other, I think the Sabres have players the Canucks like,” Friedman said on Donnie and Dhali.
Friedman noted that Buffalo doesn’t want to make their team worse in the short term. That means they wouldn’t be looking for draft picks or prospects, despite sitting second-last in the Eastern Conference standings.
“Do I think the #Canucks have talked to Buffalo? Yeah I do. Do I think the Sabres have talked to the #Canucks? Yes I do. Do I think that that’s the exact combination they have talked about? No I don’t know that..”@FriedgeHNIC talked about about his Byram, Cozens & Pettersson… pic.twitter.com/9UvttqkeIK
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) December 16, 2024
There’s a ton of noise surrounding the Canucks right now, despite J.T. Miller and Thatcher Demko recently returning to the lineup. Saturday’s brutal home loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins certainly didn’t help matters.
Vincent Desharnais is reportedly on the trade block and Jim Rutherford confirmed the Canucks are looking to add to their team.
Meanwhile the Canucks can’t seem to buy a win on home ice. They’ve lost three of their last four games at Rogers Arena, with the Colorado Avalanche up next.