Chicago Blackhawks in talks with Western Conference team on massive trade for star forward

The post-Olympic trade market is officially exploding, and head coach Rick Tocchet might be preparing to lose his number 40, Elias Pettersson.

The Vancouver Canucks are once again dominating the rumor mill with 2 weeks left before the trade deadline. The noise is getting loud.

According to local reports from Ben Kuzma, the Chicago Blackhawks have emerged as a top-3 destination for the superstar center.

Chicago is desperately looking to insulate 20-year-old Connor Bedard. Adding a true top-tier pivot to the locker room is their absolute priority.

While a blockbuster of this magnitude seems shocking, the Blackhawks hold 1 massive trump card over the rest of the league.

They possess the sheer cap space necessary to absorb his $11.6 million contract outright. They don’t need Vancouver to retain a single dime.

Very few teams in the Show can absorb an 8-figure deal without sending a toxic contract back the other way.

What does a Chicago trade package look like?

If Vancouver moves a franchise pillar, they must prioritize high-end centers coming back. Giving up a 100-point threat isn’t easy, and futures alone won’t provide a short-term fix.

Chicago has the raw talent in their system to outbid the 31 other teams. General Manager Kyle Davidson has stockpiled an incredible war chest.

Oliver Moore is the logical starting point. Since former 1st-round pick Frank Nazar is reportedly untouchable, Moore brings the exact type of transition game the Canucks covet.

The ultimate prize is Chicago’s 2026 first-round pick. Securing that selection is an absolute must for Vancouver management to justify this franchise-altering move.

They will also push hard for a top-tier prospect for the blue line. A top-2 pick like Artyom Levshunov is going to be brought up immediately.

Salary offsets like Jason Dickinson or Andreas Athanasiou could clear $3 million to balance the books. Vancouver is strictly hunting for elite futures to restock the cupboards.

Over his NHL career, Pettersson has established himself as an elite offensive force on the power play. But there is 1 massive roadblock dictating this entire scenario.

He holds a full No-Trade Clause on his 8-year extension. He holds all the cards and must explicitly approve any trade out of western Canada.

Would he actually waive his NTC to join a rebuilding squad? Teaming up with Bedard before the next puck drop is a massive draw, but it remains the ultimate wild card.