Obviously what is happening is not good but there is not a single player you could get back in a trade that would be as good as EP is when he is playing to his potential, which we have seen for most of his career aside from a couple blips that did eventually resolve themselves.
Again, with the way we're deploying our lines trying to be as strong down the middle as possible relative to weakness on the wings, he's kinda just drawing the short straw and is getting the least offensive support of any player on the roster at 5 on 5. However, he is still contributing excellent defensive results that are part of the team's success.
Every team needs player that help get them into a playoff position but IMO Pettersson has an issue.
Its not only about receiving a similar player. Its about getting out of a potentially catastrophic contract.
Two 50 point guys equal one 100 point guy for less money. In a one for one trade the best for the Canucks is for a defenseman which they don't really need all that much now with all the prospects (man that sounds so weird for Vancouver) in the system. So don't worry about an equal return in one player, get a package and save some extra cap.
If we're talking about the balance of probabilities, I would bet against it being catastrophic. Most likely we're going to be getting totally fair market value (PPG with high- enddefensive impacts) from him for the majority of the contract, with a couple years above, and a couple years below which is what you would expect from a contract covering age 26-32 seasons and a history of being at least a PPG player in 5 of 6 seasons.
As long as Tocchet is here EP's game will not use all of his talents, they just aren't needed or up to the need of the system. I do wish EP was playing like AHO though.
From the allstar break on when Tocchet changed the system to more defensive EP has been going down hill. It doesn't look like he is having fun anymore.
How many interviews has he done lately? Just no confidence. Still falling down a lot. Hesitating too much looking for a play, he looks lost.
Maybe 7 years since being drafted here has left a bad mark in/on him.
It is amazing the suggestions have exploded about moving star level players.
IMO that is the result of the confidence in the front office to do what is necessary to win or to get players, good players.
They earned so much credit for rebuilding the defence and resulting reduction in goals against and the team being where it is now. Get bigger yet and dominate more. Dallas is huge and they aren't filled with super stars but they play Colorado straight up.
