Sunday Overreactions: Canucks’ Pettersson boosting commerce worth

It’s a phrase we haven’t uttered very typically over the previous two seasons. But it was justified Thursday evening, when Pettersson ripped a one-timer off a cross-ice go for his second power-play aim of the season. He’s as much as 4 factors in three video games and is exhibiting glimpses of the participant that was as soon as some of the promising younger centres within the NHL. Even when he didn’t discover the scoresheet Saturday evening, Pettersson nonetheless threw eight hits, drew a penalty and rung one of many submit. He was in all places. 

Many thought that participant was misplaced without end. Pettersson topped 100 factors only some years in the past, however he’s been nowhere near that stage since. The 27-year-old recorded 45 and 51 factors respectively over the previous two seasons, whereas going a mixed minus-40 over that stretch. Pettersson’s confidence gave the impression to be shot, and any hope the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks had of transferring him for future belongings appeared misplaced. With this spectacular begin to the marketing campaign, although, perhaps Pettersson’s play will intrigue a determined crew sufficient to make the Canucks a proposal in some unspecified time in the future. 

Canucks could possibly commerce Pettersson if he continues to impress

It was by no means going to be straightforward to maneuver Pettersson’s contract, although it was just about unattainable as soon as his play began to dip. Now his $11.6-million cap hit doesn’t look so unhealthy after the monetary explosion we noticed throughout the league this summer time. Pettersson doesn’t even essentially should get again to that 100-point stage to be moved, as there’s a large scarcity of provide and a large demand on the subject of centres. If Pettersson can get into that 60-70 level vary and be robust defensively, he may have a market once more across the league.

One factor the Canucks have going for them in the event that they wish to transfer Pettersson is that they’d be one of many few groups prepared to take draft picks and prospects again in a commerce due to their rebuild. We’ve heard this already with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Kirill Marchenko, in addition to the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck. Both groups wished affect gamers in return who may assist their groups straight away. Most contending squads wouldn’t be prepared to surrender a key contributor off their roster, so the truth that Vancouver would seemingly be open to future belongings in a Pettersson return helps its trigger as a commerce companion. 

Pettersson’s AAV may nonetheless be a difficulty with a number of years left to go on the deal, but when the Canucks may eat a little bit of the cash or take a nasty contract again in return, it ought to make facilitating a commerce simpler. Vancouver has practically $16 million of cap area to work with, so it’s actually doable. With all that mentioned, it’s nonetheless going to take Pettersson sustaining his robust play for a considerable period of time earlier than different groups begin exhibiting any critical curiosity. There’s a protracted strategy to go, however perhaps there’s a crew on the market that’s prepared to make the Canucks a good provide for Pettersson by the deadline. It actually doesn’t appear as unattainable because it as soon as did. 

Poor goaltending may derail Oilers season

It’s solely been just a few video games, however the issues are already mounting within the Edmonton Oilers crease. Six targets went previous Tristan Jarry on opening evening because the Oilers misplaced to an impressed Canucks squad, who completed 32^nd final season and determine to be proper across the league’s basement once more this yr. Edmonton bought a second crack on the Canucks two days later, and Devon Levi had a worse outing than Jarry, permitting seven to tickle the twine. It took the Oilers 14 targets in two video games simply to safe one victory. That’s not sustainable. 

Despite Jarry struggling mightily in 2025-26 after arriving in Edmonton, the Oilers once more selected to solely search for a Band-Aid answer this previous low season. Frederik Andersen is a superb choice when he’s obtainable, however as we all know, that’s uncommon. He hasn’t appeared in additional than 35 video games since 2021-22, and Andersen is already on the shelf with an ailment. Levi is an effective guess, and he had a a lot stronger outing Saturday, although he’s largely unproven and could be thought-about a protracted shot to hold the load between the pipes. It’s very attainable the Oilers are once more looking for solutions in web as this season wears on.

Edmonton’s largest transfer this low season wasn’t on the ice, as they are banking on new head coach Mike Babcock to offer an enormous carry to this group. Although if evening one was any indication, there’s actually no coach who can compensate for shaky goaltending. That begs the query: Why once more did the Oilers not tackle the place to a better extent this summer time? Yes, they did add two goalies, however neither provide you with an inexpensive quantity of confidence that Jarry wouldn’t as soon as once more find yourself seeing the vast majority of the enjoying time. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs moved two goalies this summer time, together with Joseph Woll, who has good profession numbers and will most likely be counted on as at the least a 1B. Sergei Bobrovsky, a two-time Cup and Vezina winner who’s a future Hall of Famer, additionally hit the market. Then there’s Connor Hellebuyck, who demanded a commerce months in the past and is nonetheless sitting at dwelling. Granted, some of those issues could also be out of the Oilers’ management, like whether or not Bobrovsky had curiosity in Edmonton or if Hellebuyck would even waive his no-move clause for a Canadian crew. But it actually does really feel like solidifying the goaltending hasn’t been as massive of a precedence appropriately in Edmonton. 

Maple Leafs will remorse buying and selling Knies

It could be honest to say the response to the Matthew Knies-Kirill Marchenko commerce in Toronto was combined. Most Maple Leafs followers had been excited to get a participant of Marchenko’s calibre, however had been puzzled as to why Knies’ title continuously surfaced in commerce rumours via two administration regimes. Knies remains to be simply 23 years of age, on a really pleasant long-term contract and has a singular talent set that’s arduous to seek out across the league. That talent set was on full show in Knies’ first recreation with the Columbus Blue Jackets, because the rugged ahead scored twice and added an help throughout an opening-night win. It’s the form of game-changing expertise that would make the Leafs remorse this commerce sometime. 

One stellar recreation from Knies shouldn’t outline this commerce, and Marchenko is already constructing chemistry with Auston Matthews that ought to solely proceed to develop over time. If these two can type a stable duo that helps the Leafs safe Matthews to a long-term extension, that alone will make the commerce a win. The solely cause Toronto would remorse this commerce is that if a centre or high defenceman comes obtainable the place they may’ve used Knies as their largest commerce chip. Those gamers hardly ever change into an choice by way of a commerce or free company, so upgrading the group with Marchenko at the moment was nonetheless a shrewd transfer. Hindsight is 20/20, and there’s at all times an opportunity a commerce couldn’t pan out, however Toronto’s logic with the Knies commerce right here was sound. 

Panthers are in hassle after Barkov’s damage

Not once more. After lacking all of final season with a torn ACL suffered in coaching camp, Aleksander Barkov went down in solely the second contest for the Florida Panthers and can miss at the least 10 video games on LTIR. Things actually snowballed in a nasty manner final season for the Panthers after Barkov went down, as accidents and inconsistency led to the crew lacking the post-season after back-to-back Stanley Cups. There’s little doubt Barkov is the crew’s most vital participant, as his 200-foot recreation is unrivalled within the NHL and Florida’s captain can be utilized in any state of affairs. In a troublesome Atlantic Division, there’s an actual hazard it could possibly be deja vu for the Panthers this season and that their playoff probabilities have taken a large hit. 

Barkov is clearly a large loss for the Panthers, however they shouldn’t be as weak as they had been final yr. Keep in thoughts, Florida was additionally with out Matthew Tkachuk till January final season, and it was coming off three straight Cup Final appearances. The Panthers had performed a ton of hockey over that span and had been clearly feeling it, making it more durable to beat key accidents. In 2026-27, the Panthers are getting back from a protracted summer time rested and recharged and have added Brady Tkachuk, so they need to be in higher form to carry the fort down till Barkov returns. Plus, there may be optimism this ailment isn’t season-ending for Barkov. Hopefully he ought to be again in some unspecified time in the future to assist them with a playoff push. 

As far as debuts go, it’s arduous to have a greater one than Nick Robertson did this week with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Robertson scored twice in his first regular-season recreation in a Pens jersey, taking benefit of enjoying on the highest line with Sidney Crosby. That’s not a nasty place to be if you wish to pad your stats. Nobody ever questioned Robertson’s shot in Toronto, it was extra the consistency that saved him from cementing a spot within the high six and getting extra ice time. Pittsburgh isn’t as logjammed with high-end expertise because the Maple Leafs had been, so Robertson has an actual likelihood to remain up there this season. And if he performs with Crosby, the sky is the restrict. He’s by no means even scored 20 targets earlier than, however may 25 be in sight in a full marketing campaign subsequent to Crosby?

We’ve seen Crosby drag loads of okay gamers to respectable seasons earlier than, and when you’ve got some talent and savvy as Chris Kunitz did, you may actually thrive. Robertson undoubtedly has a wonderful shot, and you’ll guess Crosby goes to seek out him in prime scoring areas if he can get open. Plus, Robertson performed 15:02 on opening evening after by no means averaging greater than 12:40 throughout his time in Toronto. It’s clear the Pens wish to give him an actual have a look at the highest of the lineup, and if Robertson can simply work his manner into some constant power-play time as nicely, 25 shouldn’t be out of attain.