The truth about the NHL Trade Deadline is that everyone wants their teams to trade for quality players and no one wants to give up anything to get those players

With continuing rumors about the Red Wings’ interest in Elias Pettersson, it’s time to ask which Detroit youngster, or youngsters, are you willing to lose to secure the Vancouver Canucks center or another coveted center such as Vince Trocheck (New York Rangers) or Robert Thomas (St. Louis Blues).

Based on multiple reports, the Canucks are looking for a return that includes a young center, a first-round pick and another prospect or asset of significance.

Tell me I’m wrong – if (and we all know its a BIG IF) #Canucks can unload Elias Pettersson without retaining a single cent on what remains of his 8yr $92.8 million dollar contract – it’ll go down as one of the best trades in team history. Remarkable how far he’s fallen.

— JAY JANOWER (@JayJanower) March 1, 2026

Canucks Want Center Back

That probably means Marco Kasper (Eighth, 2022), or Nate Danielson (ninth, 2023) and maybe someone defenseman like Shai Buium, brother of current Vancouver defenseman Zeev Buium., would go to Vancouver, Or maybe, they would want feisty Eddie Genborg (44th, 2025) whose physical presence has allowed him to be an impact player in the Swedish Hockey League.

The Red Wings are willing to give up their first round pick this season. It’s easier to give up a first-round pick when it is likely to be in the second half of the draft. The chances of landing a regular out of the draft in the first 15 picks is 80 percent, but it’s less than 40% from picks No. 16-30.

Under the flag of you must give up something to get something, the Red Wings probably would be willing to give up one of their young centers. But it’s certainly not easy parting with young players with untapped potential. Despite Kasper’s scoring struggles, he’s one of Detroit’s most physical forwards. He leads the team with 137 hits.  Plus, Kasper is only 21 and he could end up providing more offense. He did score 19 goals last season.

Like Kasper, Danielson is going to be a dependable NHL center, but it might be on the third line, not the second. How much offense will he contribute? It’s hard to know for sure.

Salary Impacts Trade Value

The ask for Pettersson might even be more if he didn’t have $11.6 million-per-season salary cap hit for another six seasons. The Canucks are unwilling to retain any salary, according to reports.

Because the Canucks are unwilling to retain any of Pettersson’s salary and given his struggles this season, could there be some wiggle room on the asking price? Maybe. But they don’t have to trade him now. It should be easy to hold the line on their asking price. Frankly, it’s reasonable, given his past production. At 27, Pettersson is theoretically in his prime.

If the Canucks are unsatisfied with Detroit’s center options, they could ask for goalie Sebastian Cossa or Trey Augustine. That would be a more difficult decision for Detroit.

The best guess is that Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Carter Bear, both having exceptional seasons, are untouchables. Axel Sandin-Pellikka is also not available. They likely want to keep both Cossa and Augustine because they are intent on assuring, they have at least one goalie for the future. You have better odds if you have two premium prospects.  The Red Wings actually have a stable of good young goalies, and might be willing to part with one of their other goalie prospects in a deal this spring,

Another name that could come up in trade talks is Detroit prospect Dimitri Buchelnikov, the Russian forward with a scoring touch. He probably falls into the column of: Prefer to keep him but would move him in the right deal.

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