Reporter believes Canucks' top young superstar wants out of Vancouver

According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, Canucks star forward Elias Pettersson may request a trade to leave the Canucks, which may or may not be a surprise, given the turmoil in Vancouver this season, not just surrounding the team's poor performance, but also the behaviour of veteran J.T. Miller. Add to that the fact that the Canucks are likely to trade their captain and another promising young player in Andrei Kuzmenko, it could leave Pettersson without much of a supporting cast.

Pettersson himself in in the midst of a career year with 18 goals and 50 points in just 39 games. He is certainly going to surpass his previous career highs, which he set last season, of 32 goals and 68 points.

The fifth overall pick in the 2017 draft was supposed to be a franchise cornerstone for the Canucks, but with the possibility of the team tanking for Connor Bedard, a rebuild could occur and Pettersson may not want to waste his prime years enduring a rebuild. A trade could benefit both sides though as the Canucks would receive a massive return for the 24-year-old and Pettersson would get the fresh start that he reportedly wants.