Insider Hints at New Frontrunner in Canucks' Pettersson/Miller Sweepstakes

The Mikko Rantanen blockbuster deal this weekend not only affected the three teams involved, the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, but also, more than indirectly, it affected the Vancouver Canucks.

Everyone thought they would be the first team to pull off a blockbuster deal as their battling star centers, Elias Pettersson and JT Miller are firmly on the trade block.

And while insider Elliotte Friedman told us on Hockey Night in Canada that he believes "there was a time (on Friday) that I thought that Pettersson was going to be a Hurricane," he now hints that there's another frontrunner we should be keeping our eye on in the ongoing Canucks trade talks:

I think those talks continue, and I believe that one of the teams that has really shown a lot of interest is Buffalo. There are others, but the Sabres are definitely in there.

Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams has definitely had Pettersson on his radar, and reports have indicated that the Canucks would be interested in center Dylan Cozens and defenseman Bowen Byram in any trade package in return.

Cozens, the former 7th overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, has been on the rumor mill all year, and continues to have a very disappointing campaign for Buffalo, with just 10 goals and 24 points in 49 games. Just two seasons ago, the promising pivot showed his potential with a 31-goal breakthrough.

The 23-year-old is in just the second season of a seven-year, $7.1M AAV deal.

It's known that if the Canucks do move on from either of Miller or Pettersson, they would want a legit center in return.

It certainly sounds like these two teams could be a match.