Canucks' Rutherford Weighs In On Futures of Elias Pettersson and Filip Hronek

When it comes to two of the Vancouver Canucks' top players in forward Elias Pettersson and defenseman Filip Hronek, the team's fans might be a little nervous about each having contracts that expire at the end of the season. 

But for president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, he is in "no panic" as he said on the Donnie & Dhali podcast today. 

The communication's been good between the two parties on both players. And we want to keep those players. They're important players, they're impact players on the Canucks. The good news is they don't become unrestricted free agents this coming summer, so there's no urgency, we don't have to be in a panic. 

Indeed, both players are restricted free agents this season. Hronek, logging a career-high 24:26 in ice time this year while recording 27 points in 29 games, will be coming off a $4.4M cap hit, and is eligible for arbitration. 

Pettersson, who got off to a blistering start this season, and has 37 points in 29 games, sees his $7.35M AAV come to an end, and will also be able to take his case to the arbitrator next summer if the two sides can't come to an agreement on a long-term extension. 

But it certainly sounds like talks have been amicable thus far, and in Pettersson's case, we know he came into the season wanting to wait on contract talks, so the fact that discussions have been had is a good sign. 

Photo: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports