The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the NHL. They certainly won’t be “buys” at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean they won’t make a trade.
No pending UFAs are coming to Chicago this season because they aren’t even going to sniff the playoffs. However, it is possible that they will do something to improve their long-term future.
The Vancouver Canucks have some internal problems is happening now and could force them to take a big step forward. The tension between JT Miller and Elias Pettersson (both superstars) caused legitimate dysfunction within the organization.
Multiple reports indicate the Canucks could trade one or both of them. If Pettersson is truly on the table, the Blackhawks should consider it. He’s a 26 year old stud who would instantly come to Chicago and become one of their stars.
The positive impact a guy like Elias Petterson could have on Connor Bédard cannot be overstated. For this reason alone, Kyle Davidson should think about finding a solution.
The elephant in the room is Pettersson’s contract. He will make $11 million through 2032. When he is at his best, he is worth every penny. When this situation has him playing well below his ceiling, it’s hard to justify him earning that much.
Pettersson needs a change of scenery and Chicago would be perfect for his services. Despite his heavy contract, getting him involved in a trade would be expensive. Sometimes you have to give up value to get value. One of these packages might be enough to achieve this:
To the Blackhawks: Elias Pettersson
To Canucks: Frank Nazar, Marek Vanacker, 2025 first round pick (TOR)
For the Blackhawks to have a player like that, some good upside has to go the other way. In addition to the 2025 first-round pick (he originally belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs), Frank Nazar and Marek Vanacker are part of this package.
Nazar and Vanacker were recent first-round picks in Chicago, and both are promising NHL contributors. Nazar is already in the NHL and learning the way after dominating the first half of the year with the Rockford Ice Hogs.
As for Marek Vanacker, he plays for the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL. He doesn’t have the same projected ceiling as Nazar but he could become a good player with the right development.
Vancouver currently has the players and personnel to develop guys at all levels. They have turned many talents, including Pettersson, into NHL regulars. With a deal like this, they would improve their present and future if they were to leave Pettersson.
To the Blackhawks: Elias Pettersson
To the Canucks: Sacha Boisvert, Oliver Moore, 2025 first round pick (TOR)
Toronto’s first-round pick is part of this package along with Oliver Moore and Sacha Boisvert. As with the first trade, both of these players are guys drafted in the first round by the Blackhawks.
Sacha Boisvert currently plays for the University of North Dakota. Right now, he leads them in scoring and is one of the most impressive freshmen in the country.
Oliver Moore just won his second consecutive gold medal with Team USA at the World Junior Championships. He also plays college hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he consistently provides good play in all three zones.
Both of these guys are solid two-way players who hope to one day bring those abilities to the NHL. In Moore’s case, he has the speed to keep up with the best skaters in the NHL. Vancouver has a few.
If the Canucks agreed to a trade like this, it would mean they are calm with Petterson’s return not affecting them at the NHL level for at least a year. This isn’t where they wanted to be, but you never know what the outcome of this situation will be in the long run.
To the Blackhawks: Elias Pettersson
To Canucks: Jason Dickinson, Taylor Hall, Artyom Levshunov, 2025 sixth-round pick
There could be a world where the Blackhawks would be willing to pay a premium price for a star like Pettersson. He has 180 goals and 261 assists for 441 points in 443 games played.
He is two career points under a point per game pace and that’s because this season has gone well for him by his standards. He has 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 36 games played.
Many NHL players would love this level of production, but we’re used to seeing more from Pettersson. With a change of scenery and a happier situation, he is a good bet to bounce back.
Giving up two NHL players, a high-end prospect and a 2025 sixth-round pick would be a big decision, but the return on investment could be worth it.
Taylor Hall and Jason Dickinson would immediately fit into Vancouver’s lineup, as they believe they can still make the playoffs if they take steps to save their situation.
Artyom Levshunov, however, is the most prized possession in this profession. He was the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, but his development is still very raw. Vancouver would have some work to do with him, but he would definitely be worth it if he reaches his potential.
All of these trades are incredibly risky for the Chicago Blackhawks. At the same time, they also represent an incredibly risky risk for the Vancouver Canucks who have a superstar in Pettersson.
This might be the kind of move that helps both teams and the players involved (including the current Vancouver squad battling drama), but it’s not easy to pull off. Only time will tell if neither, or both, will be offered before the March deadline and whether the decision will have been a wise one.
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