Insider: Canucks Prioritizing Certain Return in Any Pettersson or Miller Trade

Per hockey insider Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada, the Vancouver Canucks are now "definitely, definitely looking at the (trade) market" for both of their embattled star forwards Elias Pettersson and JT Miller.

We should be prepared, says Friedman for "all outcomes," including both of them getting dealt, just one of them goes, or neither of them.

He has also learned that the Canucks are focused on a particular priority in a return package in any trade for either Miller or Pettersson, and it shouldn't come as any surprise.

I think if the Canucks do make a trade, they're going to need a center in return. I know that Canucks fans right now are concerned about the defense with (Quinn) Hughes and (Filip) Hronek injured, but I believe the team has prioritized center in a return more than the blueline, because obviously they'd be trading a center if one or both was to go.

This obviously makes sense, as losing a pivot as valuable as Miller and/or Pettersson would require a reasonable replacement up the middle ASAP.

As for the issues on defense, the good news is that Hughes is very close to returning, and in fact he will travel with the team on its five-game road trip. That would certainly be a big break for Vancouver, as this trip will be no picnic, as they'll be facing no less than three first-place teams, including the Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets. They'll start out against the Montreal Canadiens, and they also have another tough game mixed in against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The sooner they can get this whole Pettersson/Miller mess worked out, the better.

The Canucks currently find themselves in 4th place in the Pacific Division, while narrowly holding down the 2nd Wild Card spot out West.