Around this time last year, rumors began to swirl about the Detroit Red Wings having interest in Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. Ultimately, the forward stayed put, and his no-movement clause went into effect July 1, 2025.
Fast-forward to 2026 – the Canucks have committed to retooling. With that, it’s time for the Red Wings to revisit the Pettersson idea. Steve Yzerman has already been in contact with Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin about Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood – his next call should be about Pettersson.
Whether it’s Pettersson or another trade target, overall fit breaks down into three main categories:
- Place in the current lineup
- Age/talent/role during Detroit’s next contention window
- Available assets to acquire the player
Starting with the lineup, the Red Wings could deploy Pettersson on Dylan Larkin’s wing opposite Lucas Raymond. He could also slot in between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane on the second line. There’s potential for chemistry in both scenarios, given Pettersson’s speed, vision, compete level, and high-end puck skills.
The eighth-year forward would also strengthen Detroit’s power play, whether that’s the first or second unit. He would man the right flank in both cases.
As for long-term plans, Pettersson is 27 and is expected to be in his prime for another three years. And based on his playing style, it’s fair to venture that he will still be performing at a high level when he exits his prime years.
This lines up nicely with Detroit’s next contention window, which is expected to run from 2028 to 2031. Pettersson will still be in his prime when the window opens and should be able to play a critical role throughout – he’s signed through 2032.
Finally, the cost. Vancouver will demand king’s ransom for Pettersson, and they are right to do so. Not many players of this caliber hit the trade block. Fortunately, though, Detroit has the assets and cap space to make it work – even without salary retention.
When this topic came up last year, the suggested trade package included:
- Nate Danielson or Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
- J.T. Compher or Michael Rasmussen
- Sebastian Cossa or Trey Augustine
- First-round pick
- Conditional first-round pick
This year’s price could be similar. Vancouver had interest in Danielson dating back to his draft year and could demand a center prospect as part of the deal. There was prior interest in Marco Kasper as well.
From Detroit’s point of view, the cost is high, but it makes sense. Adding a true top-six center like Pettersson would fill one of the team’s biggest needs, even if it means giving up a key young player like Kasper or Danielson. Detroit can afford to part with a goalie prospect, too; Augustine would be the more logical piece to move, especially with Cossa looking ready for an NHL role.
Including one first-round draft pick is reasonable. Adding a conditional first-round pick based on team success on top of that may seem like an overpay, but that’s the reality of acquiring a top-tier talent. If the Red Wings want to acquire a big-time player like Pettersson, multiple first-round picks will likely need to be involved.
Related: 4 Underrated Red Wings Trade Targets to Improve Team Defense
Of course, Pettersson will need to waive his no-movement clause before any trade can be completed, and there’s no guarantee he’ll do that. In addition to pitching the Canucks a strong trade offer, the Red Wings will need to sell Pettersson on the future of the organization. And, at the moment, that future is looking a little brighter than that of the Canucks.
If Pettersson is open to such a move, I would push all the chips in. At some point, the Red Wings need to cash in on the plethora of draft picks and prospects they’ve accumulated over the course of their rebuild. Such a move could propel the Red Wings into contender status sooner than expected.
