Pacific Notes: Pelletier, Tanev, Ducks

The QMJHL draft is just underway and already there has been a notable trade agreed upon.  TVA Sports’ Mikael Lalancette (Twitter link) is among those to report that Flames prospect Jakob Pelletier has been dealt from Moncton to Val-d’Or.  RDS’ Stephane Leroux adds (Twitter link) that a pair of first-round picks are among the five picks and a prospect going the other way.

Pelletier was the 26th overall pick by Calgary last June following a breakout season.  He followed up his 89-point 2018-19 campaign with 82 points this season in eight fewer games.  The 19-year-old has already signed his entry-level deal which means he will be making the jump to the pros for 2021-22, making this a steep price to pay for what will be a one-year rental at the junior level.

More from the Pacific Division:

• Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev is a pending unrestricted free agent that will be heading into a constricted open market due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, he told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre that he thinks a lot of players could sign a one-year contract this offseason in the hopes that the financial situation will improve from where it is now.  The 30-year-old has spent his entire 10-year NHL career in Vancouver and has stated his preference to stay several times although with more than $63MM in commitments already for next season to just 14 players, they may not be able to retain all of their veterans with a salary cap that will likely be at or near the $81.5MM it was at this season.  If he does stay, he may very well need to take a one-year deal.
• Speaking on a conference call with reporters including Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register, Ducks GM Bob Murray indicated that he has had talks with all of their pending free agents. Goalie Ryan Miller and defenseman Michael Del Zotto highlight their list of unrestricted free agents while blueliner Jacob Larsson plus wingers Troy Terry and Sonny Milano are among the restricted free agents.  Of those, Terry is a section 10.2 player and is not eligible for an offer sheet or salary arbitration.