Are Canucks Prepared to Cut Losses With Elias Pettersson?: 4 Possible Landing Spots

The pressure is mounting on Elias Pettersson in Vancouver, and according to some around the league, the upcoming season could represent a make-or-break moment for the star center.

TSN analyst Frankie Corrado suggested this may be Pettersson’s “last chance” to prove he can lead the Canucks moving forward. Noting he’s done a poor job in the past of preparing for an upcoming season, there’s no excuse this summer. While the organization still values his talent, patience is running thin. The new management team of Ryan Johnson and the Sedins is willing to start fresh, but this won’t be a three-strike situation. Corrado noted that if Pettersson cannot rediscover his top form, Vancouver may have no choice but to cut its losses and explore trade options.

He believes the Canucks would move him just to move him, while another team might take a flier on the center.

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The challenge is Pettersson’s contract. Carrying an $11.6 million cap hit for several more seasons, any deal would be complex. “Do you know what you’re going to get for a flier, on a guy that’s supposed to be your number one center? It doesn’t exactly set you up for any kind of success moving forward.”

Still, there will be a team or two willing to send the smallest return to Vancouver, recognizing the upside of a player who has produced near-point-per-game numbers over his career.

Look no further than the Montreal Canadiens. They have been floated as a possible fit, particularly if salary retention brings his cap hit closer to a more manageable range. GM Kent Hughes is known to take risks on quality players who need a fresh start. It’s panned out more times than not for the Habs.

David Ettedgui writes, “Drafted 5th overall in 2017, Elias is a left-shot center, a glaring need for the Canadiens. He has a solid frame at 6’2 and 180 pounds. At just 27 years old, he fits perfectly with the team’s core age window and he’ll be under contract for the same duration as Slafkovsky, Hutson, and company.” He adds, “Yeah, there’ve been issues with the team, but let’s be real… he’s a proven center in this league. His 51 points last year, in a “horrific season,” are still respectable numbers for a 2C. I’m convinced he absolutely needs to get out of there, AND THAT HE WILL BOUNCE BACK.”

What would the Canadiens have to give up? Ettedgui suggests a package including Brendan Gallagher, this year’s first-round pick, and a solid prospect. “We’d look toward Reinbacher or Engstrom, or even a young player like Struble. Bottom line, the Habs have what it takes to land this big fish.”

Meanwhile, Detroit and Los Angeles have also been mentioned as teams that could explore the situation, depending on their roster needs and cap flexibility. The Carolina Hurricanes were interested at one time. Would they be again? The Hurricanes don’t need him after just winning the Stanley Cup. That said, they want to continue to improve the team and that will mean looking at ways to get even better.

For now, the Canucks are preaching patience under new management, but they also know they can’t wait forever. Pettersson’s no-move clause adds another layer of complexity, but of the four teams mentioned, it’s hard to imagine he would have any real reservations about joining any of them.

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