“Is it (a trade) possible? I guess I would say anything is possible,” said Vancouver Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin. During an interview with Sportsnet’s Iain McIntyre, Allvin noted that he has faith in Pettersson as a No. 1 center but said there are things the dynamic forward needs to work on, and given Jim Rutherford‘s active history as a GM and President, nothing is off the table.
Petey has shown up to this point that he is an extremely talented, quality player that could and should be a No. 1 centre. I believe in him. I believe that he’s capable. (But) he needs to mature and understand that there are certain expectations and it does not get easier. And you need to face the music when things don’t go well. Is it (a trade) possible? I guess I would say anything is possible.
As for whether anything is imminent, that wasn’t indicated and seems unlikely.
The Canucks are hoping that Pettersson finds more consistency in his game and the drama that unfolded this season between himself and J.T. Miller is addressed and put to rest now that it’s out in the open.
Allvin talked about the big extension the Canucks signed Pettersson to and that he’s not even done half the work that comes with that kind of responsibility. “I don’t believe that he was aware of just how hard it was going to be,” the GM said. He added, “Just because you achieve one thing to get a long-term extension (the $92.8-million contract Pettersson signed in March). . . life just gets harder. You haven’t really accomplished anything.”