Apparently, NHL trades are allowed on Friday nights and Friday nights solely. Jokes apart, the Vancouver Canucks had a busy Friday, first buying and selling J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers, then buying defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Listed below are the complete particulars of the Pettersson deal:

It didn’t take lengthy for the Canucks to flip some belongings from the Miller commerce, however that is nonetheless a curious deal for them. As for the Penguins, it’s rebuild/retool time for Kyle Dubas, and this was a fairly good begin as they’re prone to be one of the lively sellers forward of the March 7 commerce deadline.

After buying and selling Miller, I might have guessed the Canucks can be trending towards turning into sellers. As a substitute, they instantly flipped the primary they acquired for Miller by including Pettersson to their blue line.

Pettersson isn’t precisely a family identify, however he is without doubt one of the extra underrated top-pair defenders within the NHL. He’s put up robust metrics in his time in Pittsburgh, particularly defensively. He’s not a giant point-producer, however he can transfer the puck effectively, one thing the Canucks want defensively.

Associated: Grading Rangers & Canucks Blockbuster J.T. Miller Commerce

Certain, they could have Quinn Hughes, however the Canucks don’t have sufficient puck-moving defenders of their lineup, and Pettersson ought to assist give them some much-needed defensive depth behind Hughes and Filip Hronek on the highest pair.

I perceive why the Canucks acquired Pettersson from a personnel standpoint, however it’s a dangerous transfer, contemplating the place they’re within the standings. They’re on no account a lock to make the playoffs within the West, and transferring Miller in all probability doesn’t assist. Giving up a primary looks as if fairly a bit for Pettersson, even when it received’t essentially be a excessive one because it’s the Rangers’ decide and top-13 protected.

Marcus Pettersson with the Pittsburgh Penguins (Photograph by Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

That’s not all of the Canucks gave up, although. Melvin Fernström is having a stable season within the SHL for Örebro HK, with eight factors in 35 video games as an 18-year-old. Danton Heinen is a bottom-six ahead, however a good one at that — he’s on tempo for 28 factors. Granted, additionally they acquired Drew O’Connor, however he’s possible a downgrade from Heinen.

This deal will look lots higher if the Canucks re-sign Pettersson, however it looks as if a hefty worth to pay for a rental defenseman, albeit an excellent one, contemplating the place they’re within the standings.

Canucks: Grade B-

It was solely a matter of time earlier than the Penguins grew to become sellers, and this might be removed from the final transfer Dubas will make earlier than March 7. The Penguins’ personal decide might be within the lottery this yr, and there’s an opportunity the Rangers’ decide might be within the high 20, relying on the place they end. If the Rangers actually backside out, it slides to 2026, which seems to be like a a lot deeper draft class. I’m positive the Penguins received’t thoughts that both.

That first-round decide for Pettersson is the crown jewel of this deal, however Heinen is below contract via the top of subsequent season and is younger sufficient that he might be an answer for the Penguins in the event that they’re attempting to be aggressive in 2025-26. As talked about above, he’s an improve over O’Connor, in order that’s a constructive.

I’m unsure if Fernström will quantity to something within the NHL, however he’s a prospect price taking a flyer on. The Penguins have an bettering farm system, largely as a result of the prospects they obtained in final yr’s Jake Guentzel commerce have been enjoying fairly properly within the AHL, particularly Ville Koivunen. Fernström ought to strengthen the Penguins’ farm system and provides them one other prospect with some promise.

David Desharnais was possible a throw-in greater than anything, however he’s a stable third-pair defender; simply don’t anticipate him to supply a lot offensively. General, this was a stable little bit of enterprise by Dubas, one thing the Penguins wanted.

Penguins Grade: B+

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