Breaking Down the Marcus Pettersson Trade
A significant trade involving the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks was made late Friday night.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman is reporting that defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor are being dealt to Vancouver, in exchange for a conditional first round draft pick, forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, and forward Melvin Fernstrom.
The first round pick is what the Canucks received from the New York Rangers, as part of the JT Miller trade, on Friday. The stipulation of the pick, for Pittsburgh, is that if the Rangers finish bottom 13 in the league this season, it’s a 2026 first round pick. However, should the Rangers finish better than that, the Penguins’ first round pick will be this year.
Pettersson had been with the Penguins since the 2018-2019 season, and was undoubtedly their most physical and best defender on the blue line during that stretch.
O’Connor played parts of five seasons in Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old forward had his best showing last season, with a career-high 16 goals.
Heinen returns to the Penguins, after playing two seasons with them during the 2021-2022 and 2022-23 seasons.
Desharnais was with Vancouver, for parts of three seasons. The 6’7 defenseman displayed his physicality and awareness on the ice, as he registered 135 hits and 122 blocked shots last season.
Fernstrom became the Canucks third round selection, in the 2024 NHL Draft. A native of Balsta, Sweden, Fernstrom had been with Orebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League. He has eight points (3 G; 5 A) in 35 games.
Assessment: The Canucks strengthen their defensive corps, with the addition of Pettersson, and add to the forward depth, in the form of O’Connor. Canucks president of hockey operations, Jim Rutherford, had obtained Pettersson and O’Connor during his tenure as Penguins general manager.
From Pittsburgh’s side of the deal, it’s a solid, return for Kyle Dubas. Regardless of whether the first round pick is for this year or next year, it’s pretty remarkable, to acquire a first, for Pettersson and O’Connor; both of which are on expiring contracts. The Heinen and Desharnais pick ups are sort of just there, but an 18 year-old prospect, in Fernstrom, is a nice, addition, to the Penguins’ system.