Canucks acquires Pettersson, O’Connor from Penguins

Vancouver Canucks remains busy on the trading market while they arise their blue line depth.

Returning to Penguins is Danton Heinen, defends Vincent Desharnais, the rights to forward Melvin Fernström and 2025 Conditional first round chose Canucks acquired from Rangers in the Miller trade.

“We are really happy to add the depth of our team with the acquisitions of Marcus and Drew,” said Canucks GM Patrik Allvin in a statement. “Marcus has good size, range and makes solid decisions with the puck, while Drew is an intelligent player with versatility and a larger frame. “

Pettersson, a pending unlimited free agent, is a defensive defender who is in his ninth NHL season. In 47 games with Penguins this season he has three goals and 15 assists.

The current Canuck President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford was General Manager of Penguins when Pittsburgh acquired Pettersson from Anaheim Ducks in 2018.

“He’s exactly what we need, in my opinion,” Rutherford said in an interview with The athletic Late Friday night after trade was announced. “You know what he is? He is just a very, very stable defensive defender. You must have guys as such if you want to win in this league. And he’s one of the really good ones. “

O’Connor, who is also a pending unlimited free agent, is in its fifth NHL season with Penguins. This season he has six goals and 10 assists through 53 games.

Heinen goes back to Pittsburgh, where he played for two seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Canucks signed the 29-year-old up to a two-year $ 4.5 million deal in July. Heinen recorded six goals and 12 assists with Vancouver this season.

Desharnais also signed a two-year deal with Canucks in July after spending last season playing in 78 games for Edmonton Oilers. But the 28-year-old defender never really seemed to get on the field in Vancouver and finished his Canucks Medications Period with only three assists in 34 games.

Fernstrom, 18, was chosen by Canucks in the third round (93. Overall) of 2024 NHL draft. He was the first player chosen by Canucks in last year’s draft after the team had shopped away his higher draft elections in other offers.

Earlier on Friday, Canucks Miller, Erik Brannstrom and the rights to prospectus Jackson Dorrington, sent Rangers for Center Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini defends the conditional first rounds now going to Pittsburgh. The election is the top 13 protected for the 2025 NHL draft and will be an unprotected election in the first round of 2026 if Rangers stumbles at the end of the season.