Metropolitan Division Team Reportedly Has ''Real Interest'' in Vancouver Canucks' Nils Hoglander

It's been a tough season for Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander, there's no question about that, especially after an incredible 2023-24 campaign.

Hoglander has seen his production dip quite a bit and as a result of that, his ice time has dropped, including a season-low 6:28 during Vancouver's game on Black Friday against the Buffalo Sabres.

It's gotten to a point where even Nils Hoglander's agent Alain Roy got involved, along with the Canucks, to try and help get him going on the right path.

Heading into Sunday afternoon's clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hoglander has gone 20 games without a goal and 15 games without a point.

It's hard to see where this goes from here if Nils Hoglander continues on this path of not producing, but there's a few likely scenarios - reducing his ice time further, making him a healthy scratch or even trading him, the latter of which the Canucks probably don't want to do, especially considering what he did last year.

In this week's 32 Thoughts article, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman shared that the Pittsburgh Penguins have "real interest" in Nils Hoglander and mentioned that their General Manager, Kyle Dubas has shoppers for forward Drew O'Connor.

It's unclear if one of those shoppers for Drew O'Connor is the Vancouver Canucks, but it would be an interesting fit if Patrik Allvin and Kyle Dubas are able to swing a deal.

O'Connor, 26, is also having a bit of a down year like Nils Hoglander, registering nine points (three goals, six assists) in 29 games, while the Canucks forward has just two goals and three assists in 25 contests.

With both Nils Hoglander and Drew O'Connor struggling, perhaps they both need a change of scenery, but it likely wouldn't be just a one-for-one trade as the Vancouver Canucks have have been linked to defenseman Marcus Pettersson and that could lead to an even bigger deal, if, and it's a big if, the two sides are willing to move these pieces.