The Los Angeles Kings picked up the phone about Elias Pettersson, but nobody should call this a real trade negotiation yet.
TSN's Farhan Lalji said on Donnie and Dhali that the Kings called Vancouver and kicked the tires on Pettersson, though no formal offer ever got submitted.
Lalji made clear the assets discussed weren't good enough for the Canucks, even as both sides left the door open to keep talking.
Pettersson put up just 51 points in 74 games this season, his lowest points-per-game rate ever, a steep drop from the 102-point season he had back in 2022-23.
He still carries an $11,600,000 cap hit through the 2031-32 season, and a full no-movement clause gives him real say over where he'd actually go.
The full breakdown of the cap math and roster fit is laid out in detail through the original report.
Why Kopitar's retirement pushed Kings toward Pettersson
Anze Kopitar retired this offseason after a 20-year run that made him the franchise's all-time leading scorer, and replacing that wasn't going to happen through a depth signing.
Quinton Byfield is the only established top-six center left in Los Angeles, and while he put up 49 points in 79 games this season, he isn't a finished product at that role yet.
PuckPedia has the Kings sitting at just $1,830,000 in cap space with a full 23-man roster, meaning Los Angeles needs to clear nearly $9,770,000 just to fit Pettersson's number.
Scott Laughton and Erik Haula add useful depth up front, with 20 and 38 points respectively this season, but neither replaces a true first-line center.
Los Angeles wants to price Pettersson off his last two down seasons. Vancouver still wants to price him off the player he used to be.
Until those two numbers actually meet, this stays exactly what it is right now: a phone call, not a trade.
Should the Canucks accept a discounted return to move Elias Pettersson to the Kings?
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