Rival team tells Canucks what concession it will take to get an Elias Pettersson trade moving
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Rival teams are ready to talk Elias Pettersson, but only if Vancouver picks up a chunk of the bill first.
That's the word from insider Rick Dhaliwal, who says one club laid out its price for even entering serious talks.
According to Dhaliwal, a team recently told him it would need retention somewhere between $2 million and $3 million per year before it would engage on a Pettersson deal.
That's a steep ask for a Canucks front office already trying to figure out how to move on from a contract that hasn't aged well.
Re Canucks: "I know for a fact, one team told me...to get in the Elias Pettersson trade talks, they need retention, 2, 2.5, close to 3 [million] per year to make it work."
- Rick Dhaliwal
- Rick Dhaliwal
Pettersson signed his eight year, $92.8 million extension back in 2023 after a stretch where he looked like one of the best young centers in hockey.
Since then his production has fallen off, and the $11.6 million cap hit now looks like one of the tougher numbers in the league to move.
Even with $3 million retained, an acquiring team would still owe close to $8.6 million a year for a player whose role has shrunk.
Why the retention number matters so much
Vancouver reportedly has close to $17.8 million in cap space available, so eating salary wouldn't cripple the roster.
But committing millions in dead money for six seasons is a real cost, especially for a rebuilding team trying to stay flexible.
Pettersson also holds a full no movement clause, so nothing happens without his sign off.
Dhaliwal has said no deal has gotten close so far this offseason, and the Canucks haven't even approached his camp about waiving it.
What comes next for Vancouver
With training camp opening September 17 in Penticton, Pettersson is expected to report and try to rebuild his value under new head coach Manny Malhotra.
If his production bounces back, the retention math gets a lot easier for Vancouver to swallow.
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