Elias Petterssons days in a Canucks jersey may be numbered as discussions over a new contract have halted, and the two sides are still not seeing eye to eye.
Insider Elliotte Friedman spoke on 32 thoughts the podcast, where he dropped major hints toward the future of Pettersson in Vancouver.
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Friedman drops Bombshell
Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada believes that the Canucks would not be willing to commit to Pettersson, if there is any doubt that he doesn't want to commit to Vancouver.
"If there is any doubt that Elias Pettersson wants to commit to Vancouver, the team may not want to commit either". Said Friedman.
"Since Pettersson came out and said 'i'm not sure yet,' I think the Canucks have also indicated 'you know what, we're not sure either,'"
You can listen to the full audio clip below:
Pettersson has made it clear that he wants to win. His future with the Canucks is almost solely based upon how the team fares during the upcoming 2023-24 season, according to Friedman.
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Pettersson's contract will expire following the 2023-24 season, and he will hit Restricted Free Agency (RFA) status.
Pettersson, widely regarded as one of the top centers in the NHL, will likely fetch north of $10 Million on his upcoming contract, which will match the annual salary of players equivalent to his skill level.
If the Canucks were to work out a deal to send Pettersson elsewhere, they would likely receive a solid haul in exchange for the 24-year-old. This would certainly involve a 1st-round draft pick, a blue chip prospect and another key player.
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Pettersson reached new heights during the 2022-23 season, where he scored 39 goals and recorded 102 points in 80 games. He solidified himself as a premier two-way player, locking down opponents defensively on his own side of center.
Should the Canucks attempt to trade Pettersson this season?
Yes
No
