Now with general manager Patrik Allvin's hand being forced to consider making a move to change up the locker-room dynamic, Pettersson's name has been used in trade rumor discussions, which is a first in the All-Star's six-and-a-half seasons with the Canucks.

According to Johnston, as well as Elliotte Friedman and David Pagnotta in reports published ahead of last season's trade deadline, Carolina and Vancouver engaged in trade talks involving the 26-year-old Swede last season when Pettersson’s contract negotiations with the Canucks were at a standstill.

With the NHL trade deadline approaching faster than anybody wants to admit or might realize, it is pretty much a certainty that the Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be more involved in selling players than they are buying players.