Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson’s name continues to surface in trade speculation with less than a week to go before his no-movement clause kicks in.
Pettersson is under contract through June 2032 after signing an eight-year, $92.8 million contract with the Canucks in March 2024. The contract didn't feature the aforementioned clause before, but it will be activated on July 1.
According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, speaking on TSN's "OverDrive" on Monday, league chatter suggests the Canucks could be more open to a trade than they’re publicly letting on.
"The Canucks certainly are giving off all indications that they are comfortable keeping him," Johnston said. "That’s where they’re focused … but there are at least whispers that some teams are trying to get in and see in this last week whether they can use that window to perhaps get the player. This is really the last chance you have at a trade."
Johnston added that teams are keeping an eye on the July 1 deadline, aware that once Pettersson’s no-move clause activates, any deal would depend entirely on his approval.
Pettersson remains one of the league’s most skilled centers, but his production dropped sharply last season (45 points in 64 games) compared to prior years, including a 102-point campaign in 2022-23.
The forward carries a large $11.6 million cap hit, making it hard to trade for him if only for salary cap space. Looking at it from Vancouver's side, that might be the reason the Canucks try to move him.
