Getty
The Vancouver Canucks may have a hard time trading Elias Pettersson following his participation at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Olympics are a special time for every player participating. It’s an opportunity to showcase his unique talents. But for Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, it could actually hurt his stock.
There has been plenty of chatter surrounding a purported trade sending Pettersson to a contender as part of the club’s rebuild. One rumor posits that the Carolina Hurricanes are looking to land Pettersson as part of a change of scenery for the former 100-point scorer.
But his showing at the Olympics for Team Sweden will likely affect the Canucks’ chances of trading Pettersson. In two games for the Swedish side, Pettersson has been pretty much invisible.
Pettersson has been playing on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Rickard Rakell. Beyond actually being on the ice for a goal by Zibanejad, Pettersson hasn’t been close to a factor for Sweden.
That’s no bueno for a guy with an $11.6 million cap hit. If Pettersson were lighting the Olympics on fire, it would be a different story. The talk would be about the Canucks either rebuilding around Pettersson or getting a king’s ransom in a trade for him.
Unfortunately, that’s not what’s materializing at this point. Pettersson is treading water on the ice, even being part of a tough hit by Finland’s Mikael Granlund on Friday. Granlund leveled Pettersson, leaving him struggling to climb out of the Finnish bench.
It’s been that kind of tournament for Pettersson. And it’s a situation that will leave the Canucks shaking their heads.
Canucks Already Struggling with Pettersson’s Cap Hit
The biggest issue in trading Elias Pettersson is his cap hit. If not for the massive contract, Vancouver could have an easier time moving him. Plus, the club would have a better chance of landing a solid return.
But the sky-high cap hit, pls a lack of big-game heroics, puts the Canucks behind the eight-ball. If the club really wanted to trade Pettersson, it would have to get creative in exploring a worthwhile deal.
That situation may be a tough one, considering the major cap constraints just about every contending team is currently dealing with.
There’s Another Hitch to a Pettersson Trade
As if the cap hit wasn’t bad enough, there’s also another hitch to consider. Pettersson has a full no-trade clause. So, he has to approve any trade the Canucks want to do. If the 27-year-old chooses to follow in Artemi Panarin’s footsteps, the club may have no choice about where to send him.
Unless the Canucks were willing to just give Pettersson away, the fact remains that it might just be easier to keep him. That’s a tough prospect considering that the rebuilding Vancouver club would need to maximize its cap space and potential returns.
Perhaps this season is just not the right time to trade Pettersson. Next season or even beyond might be a better time, especially if he can rebound. A solid season could be enough to entice another team to take Pettersson off Vancouver’s hands.
In the meantime, Team Sweden and Vancouver hope that Pettersson can step up and improve his overall game.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
More Heavy on Canucks
Loading more stories