The Vancouver Canucks continue to face one of the NHL’s biggest offseason questions: what should they do with Elias Pettersson?
After another disappointing season from the former franchise center, speculation surrounding his future has only intensified. While Vancouver has shown no urgency to move him, one recent blockbuster trade has sparked league-wide discussion about what a realistic Pettersson deal might look like.
Oilers’ $74M Deal Could Solve Pettersson Problem
According to NHL analyst Thomas Drance, the Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse trade could provide a blueprint if the Canucks decide to move Elias Pettersson.
The comparison comes from Edmonton successfully trading Darnell Nurse despite the four years remaining on his $74 million contract. His $9.25 million cap hit and full no-movement clause made him one of the NHL’s most difficult players to trade after his performance no longer matched his salary.
Still, the Oilers found a deal, sending him to the San Jose Sharks for young defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and the rights to prospect Zachary Sharp.
Rather than receiving another star player, Edmonton focused on clearing salary while adding younger, affordable assets with future potential.
Drance believes that the same framework could apply if Vancouver eventually shops Pettersson. “On Pettersson, I think you’re probably looking at something similar to the Darnell Nurse trade return as a best-case scenario. In that trade, Edmonton was able to clear the balance of Nurse’s contract, and there’s massive value in that,” Drance pointed out.
“The Oilers also received a young defender at the tail end of his entry-level contract, who isn’t tracking to be much more than a depth contributor going forward, but still has some level of possible upside. That would represent a solid return for the Canucks for Pettersson, even if they would likely be better off taking back an inefficient contract to get a more valuable future in the exchange,” he added.
After a disappointing 51-point season and two straight underwhelming years, the Canucks must decide whether Elias Pettersson can return to his elite level or if it’s time to trade him.
The 27-year-old has six years left on his eight-year, $92.8 million contract, which carries an $11.6 million cap hit. That large salary makes it difficult for Vancouver to find trade partners.
If general manager Ryan Johnson decides not to wait for a bounce-back season, the Canucks may need to take back another expensive contract to make a deal work. For example, trade rumors with the Pittsburgh Penguins have linked Vancouver to defenseman Ryan Graves and his $4.5 million contract.
Rather than landing another star player, the Canucks would likely target young players and draft picks. Rumored trade packages involving the Toronto Maple Leafs have included prospects like Easton Cowan and Matthew Knies, who fit Vancouver’s long-term plans.
Pettersson also has a full no-movement clause, meaning he must approve any trade. That further limits Vancouver’s options by allowing him to choose which teams he is willing to join.
The Oilers’ Darnell Nurse trade proved that even a difficult contract can be moved. Whether the Canucks use a similar approach with Pettersson will be one of the NHL’s biggest offseason storylines.
