Canucks Acquire pettersson and O’Connor from Penguins
The Vancouver Canucks bolstered their blue line and forward corps Friday by trading for defenseman marcus Pettersson and forward drew O’Connor from the Pittsburgh Penguins.in return, Pittsburgh received forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent desharnais, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The first-round pick originally belonged to the Canucks, acquired earlier in the day in a separate trade that sent forward J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. It is top-13 protected and will defer to 2026 if it falls within that range.
“We wish both Danton and Vinny all the best in Pittsburgh and thank them for their contributions this season,” said Canucks general manager patrik Allvin. “We are really happy to add to the depth of our team with the acquisitions of Marcus and Drew. Marcus has good size (6-foot-5, 174 pounds), reach, and makes solid decisions with the puck while Drew is an bright player with versatility and a bigger frame (6-4, 209).”
Pettersson Brings Size and Experience
Pettersson, 28, brings a wealth of NHL experience to the Canucks, with 491 games played and 151 points (17 goals, 134 assists) for the Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh penguins. He has added 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) this season and is in the final year of his five-year contract.
The 26-year-old O’Connor provides additional offensive depth for Vancouver, posting 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 53 games this season.
Penguins Focus on Future
For the Penguins, the trade represents a commitment to rebuilding, as they received a first-round pick and a highly regarded prospect in Melvin Fernstrom, whom the Canucks selected in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
“[The] trade continues to move us in the direction set one year ago, which is to continue to add young prospects, young players, and draft capital to the Penguins as we chart our course to return the club back into contention as urgently as possible,” Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said.
“But obviously, vrey difficult to move two players and people like Marcus and Drew. Obviously,very high-character,high-quality,very popular people in the locker room. But pending free agents and, with where we’re at, we just have to continue to move down the path of the mission that we’ve set out for the last year or so. … It’s sad to see Marcus and Drew go, but that’s the hard thing about this position and this business at times.”
Teams Head in Different Directions
The canucks (23-18-10), who are currently fifth in the Pacific Division after losing 5-3 to the dallas Stars on Friday, host the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. The penguins (21-24-8), last in the Metropolitan division, host the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
What are the key attributes Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor bring to the Canucks?
Canucks Acquire pettersson and O’Connor from Penguins
The Vancouver Canucks bolstered their blue line and forward corps Friday by trading for defenseman marcus Pettersson and forward drew O’Connor from the Pittsburgh Penguins.in return, Pittsburgh received forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent desharnais, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The first-round pick originally belonged to the Canucks, acquired earlier in the day in a separate trade that sent forward J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. It is indeed top-13 protected and will defer to 2026 if it falls within that range.
“We wish both Danton and Vinny all the best in pittsburgh and thank them for their contributions this season,” said Canucks general manager patrik Allvin.“We are really happy to add to the depth of our team with the acquisitions of Marcus and Drew. Marcus has good size (6-foot-5, 174 pounds), reach, and makes solid decisions with the puck while Drew is an shining player with versatility and a bigger frame (6-4, 209).”
Pettersson Brings Size and Experience
Pettersson, 28, brings a wealth of NHL experience to the Canucks, with 491 games played and 151 points (17 goals, 134 assists) for the Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh penguins. He has added 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) this season and is in the final year of his five-year contract.
The 26-year-old O’Connor provides additional offensive depth for Vancouver, posting 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 53 games this season.
Penguins Focus on Future
For the penguins, the trade represents a commitment to rebuilding, as they received a first-round pick and a highly regarded prospect in Melvin Fernstrom, whom the Canucks selected in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
“[The] trade continues to move us in the direction set one year ago, which is to continue to add young prospects, young players, and draft capital to the Penguins as we chart our course to return the club back into contention as urgently as possible,” Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said.
“But obviously, vrey difficult to move two players and people like marcus and Drew. Obviously,very high-character,high-quality,very popular people in the locker room. But pending free agents and, with where we’re at, we just have to continue to move down the path of the mission that we’ve set out for the last year or so. … It’s sad to see Marcus and Drew go, but that’s the hard thing about this position and this business at times.”
Teams Head in Different Directions
The canucks (23-18-10), who are currently fifth in the Pacific Division after losing 5-3 to the dallas Stars on Friday, host the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. The penguins (21-24-8), last in the Metropolitan division, host the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Q&A
Q: Who are the key players involved in the trade?
A: The Canucks acquired defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor from the Penguins. In return, the Penguins received forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Q: what motivated the Penguins to make this trade?
A: Penguins GM Kyle Dubas stated the trade aligns with their focus on rebuilding by acquiring young prospects and draft capital to strengthen the team for future contention.
Q: Where do the Canucks and Penguins stand in their respective divisions?
A: The Canucks are currently fifth in the Pacific division, while the Penguins are last in the Metropolitan Division.
This trade signifies contrasting paths for the Canucks and Penguins. The Canucks aim to bolster their roster for a playoff push, while the Penguins prioritize long-term success by focusing on their future.
