The Pittsburgh Penguins have avoided making a splash in free agency, with Kyle Dubas instead focusing on trades and younger talent. But that strategy could soon lead to a blockbuster-ish move.
An NHL insider has linked Pittsburgh to a star carrying a massive $92.8 million contract, setting the stage for one of the offseason’s biggest trade storylines.
Penguins Connected to $92.8M Canucks Star
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson has emerged as a trade candidate for Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old is entering the third season of his eight-year, $92.8 million contract, which is proving to be an absolute albatross of a deal for Vancouver.
After recording just 51 points last season while dealing with the effects of a lower-body injury suffered in 2025, Pettersson’s value has taken a hit. His $11.6 million cap hit has made teams hesitant to pay a premium, while Vancouver is reportedly unwilling to retain significant salary over the remaining six years of the deal.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently suggested Pittsburgh could be an ideal landing spot. “Elias Pettersson from the Canucks… Everyone’s been talking about that, I know. But again, the ground has shifted here in a huge way. I’ve sat there, and I said, where could he go that could be good for him? I don’t know. I wonder if the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin might be good for him,” Friedman noted.
On paper, the fit makes sense. Pittsburgh has more than $16 million in projected cap space and is looking to add another impact player. Playing behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin would take some of the pressure off Pettersson, giving him the chance to rebuild his confidence in a veteran-led lineup.
However, another insider believes any deal would come at a steep price.
Frank Seravalli reported that Pittsburgh isn’t interested in simply taking on Pettersson’s contract. If the Penguins absorb the full $11.6 million cap hit, they expect Vancouver to pay a premium.
“You’ve got to take on (Ryan) Graves on the back end and his contract. You’ve got to take one other player from us. I don’t know who it was or what they were looking at. And we’ll take your player at full boat, and you need to also add in a pick to give us. So that’s sort of been along the lines of how the Penguins have thought about this,” Seravalli said.
That stance makes negotiations difficult.
Instead of receiving valuable assets to help accelerate a new era under head coach Manny Malhotra, Vancouver would be giving up one of its most talented players while also adding sweeteners just to move his contract.
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For now, that has left the trade market at a standstill. Unless another team comes forward with a cleaner offer, the Canucks’ best move may be to keep Pettersson, hope he returns to full health, and trust that he can bounce back to the elite level that earned him his long-term extension.
