Canucks take first steps towards trading Elias Pettersson.

As the Vancouver Canucks have largely imploded over the course of the past few seasons there has been constant talk regarding the future of Canucks star forward Elias Pettersson. Although Pettersson has seemed like an obvious trade candidate for the struggling Canucks, his cap hit of $11.6 million has been a major obstacle in any potential deal.

Under previous Canucks management there was a clear belief that the Canucks would not consider retaining salary on Pettersson's contract, a position from the Canucks that made a trade all but impossible. The Canucks however are now under new management, and it sounds like the Canucks are now considering all options in an effort to get a deal done.

"His name has come up a lot more," said David Pagnotta on Hello Hockey. "And there is a belief now with a new GM in place in Vancouver that there's a little bit of an appetite to retain on that deal."

According to Pagnotta there had simply been no chance of that happening prior to the management change in Vancouver. It makes a good deal of sense when you consider that the previous management group was the one that signed Pettersson to his current deal.

"Prior to that nothing, they weren't budging and weren't gonna eat any of that money," admitted Pagnotta.

So how much will the Canucks be prepared to retain? According to Pagnotta it sounds like they are open to shaving off at least a few million from Pettersson's cap hit to get a deal across the finish line.

"It sounds like maybe a couple mil, something in that range, two to three million if the deal works," said Pagnotta. "And I think that's engaged a few teams."

Pagnotta also lists teams like the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Philadelphia Flyers as teams that have expressed interest in the past, and now only time will tell if the Canucks have budged enough to make this trade a reality.