Petterson's play, combined with Rutherford's words, has torpedoed the young star's trade value.

According to industry sources, the New York Islanders remain extremely interested in Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat's former teammate. 

Given his feud with J.T. Miller, the feud that Miller doesn't want to comment on, Pettersson could be on the move rather soon:

The question has always been what the cost would be for the 26-year-old Vancouver Canucks forward, who is in the first season of an eight-year deal worth $11.6 million annually. 

The truth is that Pettersson's play has lessened his trade value. 

He has just 11 goals in 43 games, three red lights in his last 10 games, and one in his last nine. He's struggled at times to look engaged in play, and it's clear his issues with Miller are affecting his on-ice ability. 

Just as things couldn't get worse for the Canucks, their president of hockey operations, Jim Rutherford, torpedoed any kind of leverage Vancouver had left in his latest statements: 

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/p:DFYm70qSknC[/embed]

The Hockey News was told that the Canucks were incredibly high on Noah Dobson and British Columbia native Mathew Barzal.

If Pettersson was playing like the elite guy he's shown to be, Barzal very well would have made sense for a return -- now it's a pipeline dream, especially with the way Barzal is playing. 

What about Dobson?

The Islanders have a tough decision to make with their pending restricted free-agent defenseman, who is currently out long-term with a lower-body injury. 

Is he part of their future plans, and at what cap hit?

Given his struggles to live up to his potential, should they consider moving him at the 2025 NHL trade deadline or the NHL Draft?

At this point, do the Islanders even need to give up Dobson to acquire Pettersson?

Here was the Jack Eichel trade that has only paid dividends for the Vegas Golden Knights:

VGK acquire: Jack Eichel

BUF acquires: Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, a 2022 top-10 protected 1st, a 2023 2nd, and a 2023 third. 

To sum things up, the Sabres acquired a major question mark, a middle-six forward, and a few picks for a superstar who was playing strong hockey. 

With that line from Rutherford, Vancouver's return could be even worse.

In theory, the Islanders could trade them pending unrestricted free agent forward Brock Nelson, who the Canucks have interested in, but he's incredibly likely not to re-sign. 

The Islanders could move Jean-Gabriel Pageau (16-team no-trade clause), a face-off specialist and No. 3 centerman with another year left on his deal worth $5 million annually. 

What about Casey Cizikas, who has two years left at $2.5 million with zero trade protection?

The point here is that Dobson, who was once believed to have been a need in a Pettersson deal, may no longer have to be.

Sure, the Islanders would have to add more than one of the centers above, maybe pending UFA Kyle Palmieri, a throw-in like Pierre Engvall, or, given his struggles, a newcomer like Anthony Duclair, if he was willing to waive his no-move clause (doubtful, but you never know). 

But one thing is clear. If the Islanders want to do that retool thing, a refresh, Pettersson is a perfect player to allow that to happen.

And, if the cost isn't going to be ultra-extreme, where the Islanders don't have to part ways with a young defenseman and get younger in the process, that would be an absolute win.

Now, there are obviously a ton of teams that would love Pettersson, who may have stronger prospects to make a trade work.

However, that was the same thing everyone said before the Islanders acquired Horvat.

Managing the salary cap will be the hardest part of this deal, as Pettersson makes a lot of money. 

Right now, the Islanders have $1.8 million in deadline cap space, which is nowhere near enough to cover Pettersson's $11.6 million cap hit. 

If a deal is likely to happen, whether between the Islanders or another NHL squad, a third team would likely need to be involved to eat some of the money. 

Maybe, Pettersson remains a Canuck for the remainder of the season, and a deal gets made at the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Maybe he doesn't get moved at all, and Miller is the only one to go.

No, the Islanders aren't one player away from being Stanley Cup contenders. 

But a retool has to start somewhere, and with the cap potentially rising closer to $100 million if the NHL and NHLPA can reach an agreement, Petterson is the guy to get for the Islanders. 

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