The Vancouver Canucks are keeping center Elias Pettersson and the St. Louis Blues are sticking with right winger Jordan Kyrou, after each had clauses kick in at midnight on July 1.
Pettersson now has a full no-movement clause with Vancouver, which lasts until the final year of his eight-year, $92.8 million contract in 2032, with an average annual value of $11.6 million.
Meanwhile, Kyrou now has a no-trade clause, which comes into effect ahead of the third year of his eight-year, $65 million contract signed with the Blues, holding him at a $8.125 million cap hit.
For the Canucks, Pettersson’s no-movement clause likely puts an end to the speculation that has surrounded his future on Canada’s West Coast, after his dip in offensive production to just 15 goals and 40 points in 2024-25, after reaching 89 points in 2023-24 and 102 in 2022-23.
In his career, Pettersson has scored 185 goals and 457 points in 471 NHL games, with his most recent season being his second-lowest points total following the signing of his long-term contract.
While general manager Patrik Allvin likely could have dealt with the Swedish forward, his trade value is at its lowest point in his career, and the Canucks’ outlook over the next several seasons likely hinges on a potential bounceback campaign from the 26 year old.
In St. Louis, general manager Doug Armstrong retains the No. 2-rated player on Frank Seravalli’s trade target board from June 25, while also keeping faith in the remainder of the 27-year-old’s term after he averaged 35 goals and 71 points over the last three seasons.
While June 30 brought much of the star-filled excitement usually reserved for July 1 and the official opening of NHL Free Agency, the clock hitting midnight ET provided clarity on the future for several organizations, most notably in Vancouver at St. Louis.
