The Toronto Maple Leafs’ search for a second-line center has pushed Elias Pettersson into the conversation, and one eye-catching proposal would send Morgan Rielly out the door to make it happen.
On X, @TalkeyHockey floated a blockbuster that would give Toronto Pettersson while sending Vancouver a hefty return: Morgan Rielly, Miles Wood, Tyler Hopkins, Alexander Belicki, Miroslav Holinka, and a 1st Round pick in 2028 via Colorado.
The suggested deal would look like this:
Maple Leafs receive: Elias Pettersson
Canucks receive: Morgan Rielly, Miles Wood, Tyler Hopkins, Alexander Belicki, Miroslav Holinka, 1st Round pick in 2028 via Colorado
It is the kind of move that immediately jumps off the page, even if it feels like a long shot at best. Toronto gets the center it has been chasing, while Vancouver lands a package built around established talent and a cluster of prospects.
Miles Wood would also be part of the return, and the source of the proposal notes that Wood was acquired by the Leafs in the Kirill Marchenko trade.
The appeal for Toronto is obvious. The team needs help down the middle, and John Tavares has not been the same player he has been over the past couple of seasons, particularly alongside Gavin McKenna and William Nylander. Though Tavares is naturally a winger, he has been used at center for the last few years in Toronto, and that has handcuffed the offense while leaving the lineup in a less-than-optimal situation.
For general manager John Chayka, sorting out that middle-six problem has to be the top priority, especially after the team dropped its first two games of the season.
Pettersson, if he were available, would give the Leafs the kind of top-six piece they have been missing. For Vancouver, the upside would be a wave of future assets that could help reshape the roster down the line.
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