NHL pundits float blockbuster mock trade sending Canucks' Elias Pettersson to Sabres in exchange for JJ Peterka & $7,700,000 D-man

The Vancouver Canucks need to reset after failing to make the playoffs and ended their season in fifth place in the Pacific Division. Rick Tocchet left the team, and with Adam Foote in charge, they will look at several trade prospects as July approaches.

Another team that is in a similar position are the Buffalo Sabres. They missed the playoffs for the 14th straight season and are looking to revamp their roster.

One of the names linked to both teams has been Bowen Byram, who signed a two-year $7,700,000 contract in 2023. The defenseman hasn't had the best of starts in his NHL career after being selected at No. 4 by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019. He had his best campaign in 2024-25, scoring 38 points as a left-shooting blueline member.

On Sunday, NHL analyst Jeff Marek made his feelings known about a possible trade as Byram hits restricted free agency this summer.

"(Byram's) name hs been out there for a reason," Marek said (03:00), via "Sekeres and Price." "I think if I'm Vancouver, even though there has been concussion history, some injury history there before ... Having a look at some Quinn Hughes insurance and also getting a top-four defender that'll give you a number of options for the remainder of the season.

"And probably give you the benefit of not having to rush anybody into service before they're ready for it. To me, this one makes a lot of sense. And it's not just the "bring the local boy home" story."

Mat Sekeres also proposed a hypothetical trade scenario where the Canucks send Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko for Byram and Sabres forward JJ Peterka. There have been plenty of criticism on Pettersson for not delivering on his huge contract numbers. He could be a perfect fit to bring in Byram and Peterka, who has also been rumored to be on the trade block as a restricted free agent.

"Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko for Bowen Byram and JJ?" Sekeres said.

"It's just Elias Pettersson for JJ Peterka and Bowen. Elias and Elias is actually the one I jumped off. Elias and Elias for Peterka?" Blake Price said.

Jeff Marek says Utah likely to bid for Canucks' Thatcher Demko

Jeff Marek added that if the Canucks move Thatcher Demko in hopes of adding to their blue line or top-six forward, the Utah Mammoth might be one of the teams invested in improving their team.

"There's one team I'm very curious about for goaltenders right now, and that's Utah," Marek said on Sunday, via "Sekeres and Price." We're wondering about Utah making big swings in the offseason with free agents, maybe trades, maybe even with that fourth overall pick in the draft.

"But I do know that Utah is looking to do something at the goaltending position. That would be the first name that would pop out to me of teams that are ready to take that next step and could be interested if Vancouver is going to go down the trade route with Thatcher Demko."

It remains to be seen how AdamFoote and the Canucks design their roster heading into an important free agency period.