As the February 4th Olympic roster freeze approaches, the NHL trade market is heating up, with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Calgary Flames at the center of the latest buzz.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly considering trading star center Elias Pettersson. Insider Frank Seravalli reported that there's a growing belief among teams that a Pettersson trade could happen soon, potentially even before the Olympics. While Pettersson has a no-trade clause, the Canucks seem open to exploring a potential move. Several teams have been linked to Pettersson, including the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks and Utah Mammoth. With the Canucks potentially in a retooling phase, other players like Jake DeBrusk, Conor Garland, Evander Kane, David Kampf and Kiefer Sherwood could also be on the move.
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are undergoing a retool, and changes are expected. General Manager Chris Drury released a statement indicating the team would be making roster changes. Pending UFA Artemi Panarin appears likely to be traded, as the Rangers have made it clear that they will not be re-signing the forward. Panarin has expressed confusion over the situation but has stated he will continue to play hard for the Rangers. Several contending teams have interest in Panarin, including Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, and Washington. The Rangers may also consider moving former first-overall pick Alexis Lafrenière. The Rangers had previously expressed interest in Canucks' forward Kiefer Sherwood, but it is unlikely that the Rangers are still interested.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames recently traded defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. While trade talks surrounding Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman have quieted down, the Flames may still be open to making moves. Prior to the Andersson trade, the Golden Knights' offer of Zach Whitecloud and potentially two first-round picks surpassed offers from the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Dallas Stars.
