Canucks Aquire Marcus Pettersson

Canucks make another Friday night splash acquiring Marus Pettersson and Drew O’Conner from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernstrom and NYR 1st-round pick from the J.T Miller trade.

Danton Heinen has 18 points in 51 games with the Canucks this season, but that’s not where he shines. Heinen is a battler he is very good in the defensive zone, and he knows how to get into the corners to set up plays for his teammates to capitalize. Vincent Desharnais put up 3 points in 34 games in Vancouver, but same as Heinen he’s not an offensive guy he is a solid 6-7 defenceman who knows how to play in his end and can be relied upon as that bottom pair guy. Melvin Fernstrom was drafted 93rd overall in the 2024 draft and has 8 points in 31 games in the SHL. Melvin is a decent prospect who knows how to get in the right spaces to score. The 1st-round pick is the one they acquired from the Rangers in the J.T Miller trade it is top 13 protected so the penguins might end up with a 2026 pick if the Rangers are in the lottery.

Marcus Pettersson has 18 points in 47 games so far with the Penguins who is UFA at the end of the season who will solidify the Canucks blueline joining the second pair maybe with either Myers or Hronek depending on who he pairs with better. Drew O’Conner gives the Canucks depth back for losing Heinen he has almost the same numbers as Heinen with 16 points in 53 Games.

I like that the Canucks went out and made this trade without losing Hoglander as I still believe he can bounce back. They also only gain $700,175 in cap in this trade which means they end the day with $2,862,325 in cap space freed up. I still think that they aren’t done and that they either make a big move or sell at the deadline depending on how this month and a bit goes. Overall, I think they came out today the best they could given how much leverage they had. If Boeser resigns and Mercus Pettersson comes back they can come out better than I though they would.