«Petey has shown up to this point that he is an extremely talented, quality player that could and should be a No. 1 centre.
I believe in him. I believe that he's capable. (But) he needs to mature and understand that there are certain expectations and it does not get easier.
And you need to face the music when things don't go well. Is it (a trade) possible? I guess I would say anything is possible.»
Even before the shocking interview was released of Canucks GM calling out all the players and coaches, the speculation, trade rumors and drama surrounding Elias Pettersson have been running rampant ever since he signed his big contract.
The rift between him and team mate J.T. Miller has not helped the narrative either.
Mitch Marner has been quite the polarizing player among Toronto Maple Leafs fans and media, and while his contract still hangs in the wind, Marner is set to be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this season and if feels he won't get the number he wants, he can easily waive his no-move clause.
Although similar players, Mitch Marner has the slight edge in terms of point per game averages in his career, thats also with 135 more games played in his career.
Marner: 639 points / 576 games ≈ 1.11 PPG Pettersson: 440 points / 441 games ≈ 1.00 PP
The biggest knock on Marner is his inability to perform and contribute to the Maple Leafs success in the playoffs.
With drama that constantly surrounds both Marner and Pettersson, a 1-for-1 trade could be a trade that can give both players a brand new environment to excel in.