Canucks star’s brother traded from Nashville to the Coyotes

A Pettersson is on the move two weeks before the NHL trade deadline: Elias Pettersson’s older brother Emil.

The elder Pettersson sibling, a 25-year-old centre, was added by the Arizona Coyotes Friday in a minor-league trade with the Nashville Predators.

Emil has played 49 games this season for the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators’ AHL affiliate, with whom he has scored 11 goals and added 22 assists.

This is his second AHL season. He was a 2013 sixth-round draft pick by the Predators.

Younger brother Elias has spoken often about how he looks up to his brother.

Despite their age difference, their father would often drop them off together at their town’s rink so the boys could get in extra hours on the ice, just skating and having fun on their own.

“Just using your imagination,” Elias told NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika earlier this season.

“I don’t remember doing certain drills. I was just skating, having fun. Growing up, that was the funnest thing I could do.”

Emil visited his brother in Vancouver in January after the NHL All-Star Game. They took in the sights around Vancouver for a few days as both brothers’ teams were on bye weeks.

Going to the Nashville organization are forwards Laurent Dauphin and Adam Helewka, who have been playing for the Coyotes’ AHL squad, the Tucson Roadrunners.

Dauphin has six goals and 14 assists in 34 games this season with Tucson. He has scored three goals in 35 NHL contests with the Coyotes over the last four seasons.

Helewka had 13 goals and 18 assists in 41 games with Tucson.