Trade buzz in Vancouver turns ugly for one of the Canucks’ biggest stars

It’s a New Year, but you can expect some old trade rumours to surface in the NHL. Patrick Johnston of The Province has reported that teams are still checking in with the Vancouver Canucks about center Elias Pettersson. The 27-year-old was a frequent subject of trade chatter in 2024 before signing his current eight-year, $11.6-million-per-year deal.

Clearly, there is a sense of rebuild going on in Vancouver, and following the blockbuster move that shipped out captain and star defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, nothing is that surprising…

But Pettersson, really?

Johnston also noted that another source questioned what teams would even be willing to offer for Pettersson at this point. Given his struggles and massive cap hit for the next six seasons, the real question might be: why would anyone want him?

Pettersson hasn’t come close to matching his 102-point performance from 2022-23, the season that earned him his big contract. With expectations sky-high, the Canucks’ star is under pressure to prove he’s worth the investment, or risk becoming a cautionary tale about long-term deals and unmet potential.

Fans and analysts alike are watching closely: will Pettersson turn things around, or is trade chatter the only sign that he might move on?