While the trade rumors don’t seem to subside related to the Vancouver Canucks’ forward Elias Pettersson, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun doesn’t believe the star forward will be dealt.
Rumors surrounding Petterson have been circulating since the trade deadline. At that time, the team was struggling, and Pettersson and J.T. Miller were at the forefront of trade speculation. While Miller was eventually dealt to the New York Rangers, Pettersson remained with the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Despite a difficult 2024-25 season, Pettersson is still just 26 years old and already has five seasons with 27 or more goals to his name, and is two seasons removed from a 102-point campaign.
If the team does intend to move Petterson, they’ll have to do so before his full no-move clause kicks in July 1.
Elsewhere in the Pacific:
- The Athletic’s Chris Johnston noted on TSN 1050 that he believes the San Jose Sharks will make a run at pending free agent star Mitch Marner. While the Sharks have more than enough cap space to make the signing, with over $40 million available according to PuckPedia, and boast young talent like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, Johnston noted that he doesn’t view San Jose as a great fit for Marner. As Johnston said, “I would be surprised if he went to a place coming off a rebuild. I think he’s going to go to one of the better teams in the league.”
- Sharks GM Mike Grier said he is not focused on signing winger William Eklund to an extension and is instead concerned with Eklund’s health above all else, per Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. Eklund is eligible to sign a contract extension as of July 1st, and Grier previously seemed committed to getting a deal done, noting that he had met with Eklund’s agent to get an early sense of what the asking price might be. Eklund took his game to the next level last season, posting career highs in goals (17), assists (41), and points (58). However, at the World Championships, he was involved in a scary incident when he was cut on the wrist by a skate. Although he was reported to be in stable condition afterward, the long-term effects remain uncertain.
The Pettersson drama is just that, Drama, Allvin, And Tocchet mishandled the Miller debacle, And Allvin has managed to turn the Canucks forward group into an expansion team, Why Adam Foote walked into that, I’ll never know, wait a minute, Yes I do know, Foote was the only guy that interviewed for the position.
You go Wilf! Adam Foote took the job because there are only 32 of them available and he got offered one of them. Kinda the same concept as when you do your regular babbling bit about how this guy or that guy doesn’t know when to quit the game. Only so many NHL player jobs available so why would a guy leave when he continues to get offered a roster spot with a nice paycheck attached. A couple of very simple ideas that continue to trip you up like a stick in the skates.
You don’t say no to an NHL coaching job if it’s your first. There are only so many opportunities. Also, Rutherford is most likely pulling the strings, everything that’s happened smells like his mistakes.
BREAKING NEWS! MARNER NOT A GREAT FIT FOR SAN JOSE, Do these self proclaimed insiders actually get paid?
Except Marner IS a great fit for San Jose (and vice versa). SJ can make all the same arguments as the Ducks.
They might not compete for the first year, but otherwise should be in the mix for length of the deal Marner will sign. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes’ window could close in a year or two.
He’d get to play with Celebrini and/or Misa.
They have a good young goalie.
Much nicer uniforms than those orange blob things ANH wears.
I agree Marner would be a good fit for the Sharks. I’m not sure why the insiders say he’s not. He’s kinda what Celebrini Needs to take the next step.
Oh how the mighty uniforms have fallen.
I’d argue cap space doesn’t necessitate fit…
Whichever top 10 Contender wants to step up and make cap space that wants him.
Looking at you Vegas.
So Marner signs a 2-year contract and SJ is in the play-offs next year. OK