Canucks center Elias Pettersson is now eligible for a contract extension since he has entered the final season of his three-year, $22.05MM deal, one that carries a qualifying offer next summer of $8.82MM. Speaking with Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma, former Vancouver assistant GM Chris Gear (who used to handle negotiations for Vancouver) pegged a rough range of a new deal for Pettersson between $9.5MM and $10.25MM. The 24-year-old hit career highs across the board last season with 39 goals, 63 assists, and 102 points, finishing tenth in league scoring so his value is certainly at its peak. Speculatively, if that’s the approximate range that a contract for Pettersson would be at this point, Vancouver might need to go close to the top mark to get him to put pen to paper on it a year early as another 100-point showing next season could push that price tag even higher.
Elsewhere in the Pacific:
- In an interview with Ryan Dittrick of the Flames’ team site, winger Andrew Mangiapane indicated that there are no more restrictions as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, paving the way for him to be fully ready for training camp in the fall. The 27-year-old is coming off a down year offensively; after putting up 35 goals in 2021-22, he managed just 17 last season despite an increase in playing time. Both sides are certainly hoping that the nagging shoulder trouble played a significant role in that sizable drop in production.
- The Golden Knights AHL affiliate in Henderson announced the signing of defenseman Brandon Hickey to a one-year deal. The 27-year-old was originally drafted by Calgary back in 2014 but declined to sign with them or Arizona who acquired his rights three years later. However, Hickey agreed to sign with Buffalo a year later but failed to advance past the AHL level, eventually being non-tendered. Since then, Hickey has split time between the AHL and ECHL; he got into 17 games on a tryout last season with the Silver Knights, collecting a goal and an assist.
Pettersson holds all the cards & this new generation of players are not afraid to use it. Canucks ownership boxed mgmt into a corner first by standing behind an incompetent idiot for so long, and now by continuing the playoffs at all costs mantra. Without a miracle collapse by 2 teams ahead of them & maintaining a pace from last year that frankly feasted off weak, draft-wise rivals & over-playing studs Demko & Hughes, they’ll miss playoffs again & be a bad mushy middle team. Then it’s sayonara EP!
Before some wise guy notes that a “pull back the reins on a playoff push” will just lead to Pettersson’s exit too, had you accepted the fate either this year or previous one, you still had an extra buffer year to demonstrate to Pettey (& Hughes & Demko too) that you had a shrewd plan & not just greedy desperation. Nevermind better chance to score at the draft table. Right now season tix sales are lagging despite a couple exciting players & last years new coach bump (for a second straight year!)