While we’re less than two months away from the NHL Trade Deadline, one of the game’s most skilled players might be on the move in the near future.

When appearing on Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Monday, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that multiple teams have expressed interest in Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, with the Swedish centre potentially being on the move soon.

“I think there’s definitely a growing suspicion from teams that [a Pettersson deal] happens this year,” Seravalli said. “There are some thinking maybe even before the Olympics. That feels kinda quick, but the Canucks have been in the spot where they’re ready and willing to consider anything and everything pretty much throughout the course of the organization.”

With the Cancuks in the middle of a rough campaign, the idea of trading one of their star players for other assets is becoming more and more of a possibility. The 27-year-old has scored 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points. He’s a little behind his production from a couple of years ago, when he posted 89 points during the 2023-24 season, and is far off the pace he set the year before, when he notched 102 points.

Whoever’s interested in Pettersson might have to be ready to make a significant investment, as he is just in the second year of his eight-year contract, which carries a $11.6 million cap hit through the 2031-32 season. Seravalli noted that the Carolina Hurricanes are one of many teams interested in Pettersson. It’s not yet known if the rival Edmonton Oilers are interested in EP40.

In other trade news, the New York Rangers have made it clear that they will not be re-signing forward Artemi Panarin, with general manager Chris Drury releasing a letter to the public saying that the team will be retooling. The Rangers might consider trying to move the Russian sniper in order to get something in return, rather than allow Panarin to walk in free agency.

Like Pettersson, Panarin has a no-move clause on his contract, meaning that he holds the cards on where he could end up.

As the second half of the 2025-26 campaign continues, trade discussions will heat up. However, knowing that two of the top players in the game might be on the block could lead to a massive shift in the trade deadline season.