The Chicago Blackhawks are six points out of a playoff spot, but they have their important players back from injury and have won six of their past 10 games. They still have a chance of staying in the race, but even if they don't, there is a lot to look forward to that is currently on the NHL roster.
The Blackhawks have to make a significant addition sooner rather than later to really help the young players and push the team over the top to get into the playoffs. The Vancouver Canucks could be the spot they go searching.
David Pagnotta said the Blackhawks are one of the teams that could be an option for Elias Pettersson. Unlike Quinn Hughes, I don't think Pettersson is going to cost a boatload, but he won't be that cheap either. He may be struggling more because of the lack of talent around him and his injuries, but he is a former 100-point scorer and is in need of a change in scenery.
If the Canucks are rebuilding, they need more younger talent that can all develop and get better together. The Blackhawks have more than enough young talent, at both forward and defense, to suit the needs or ask of Vancouver while dealing Pettersson, and many are already NHL-ready.
The exact cost to acquire Pettersson is unknown, but with a healthy lineup, the Blackhawks might even have to send one of their young forwards back to the AHL. Guys like Colton Dach, Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, Landon Slaggert, and Nick Lardis are all on the roster and contributing, while there's defensive options like Wyatt Kaiser, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, or even more.
Even in net, the Blackhawks could send a goalie prospect the Canucks way if that's what they're partially interested in.
Chicago has the means more than most teams to acquire a talent like Pettersson, who would fit in the top-6 somewhere. There is more than enough cap space and help both teams in the direction they are trying to head in in a hurry.
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