Kings Making Trade Calls On Canucks' Elias Pettersson
Per Farhan Lalji of TSN, speaking on Donnie and Dhali, the Kings called the Vancouver Canucks about their struggling center, but the conversation did not advance far.
"There has been some conversation around Elias Pettersson. I do know that the Kings made a call and they kicked the tires," Lalji said. "It wasn't a formal offer, but I don't think what they were discussing providing back was necessarily going to be good enough yet. But I think those conversations are going to continue as well."
Why the Kings Called
Los Angeles has an obvious need.
Anze Kopitar's retirement left a permanent hole down the middle, and the Kings lack meaningful center depth in their farm system, meaning help is not coming from within.
Frank Seravalli: Re Elias Pettersson summer trade odds/Canucks: I don't think it's impossible, I don't think it's something that the Canucks are banking on - Canucks Central (7/6)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 12, 2026
Pettersson, 27, would theoretically be an appealing replacement, and GM Ken Holland has a long track record of gauging value early and circling back once his books clear, dating to his tenures in Detroit and Edmonton.
The Obstacles
The financial reality makes this difficult right now.
The Kings were active in free agency, adding Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, and Corey Perry while re-signing Scott Laughton, moves that left Los Angeles with roughly $1.8 million in projected cap space per PuckPedia.
LET'S WATCH: Elias Pettersson
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 9, 2026
Pettersson (EP40) continues to surface in trade rumours, so here's a performance of his from early in the 2025-26 season. pic.twitter.com/pkzHSF37cm
Pettersson carries an $11.6 million cap hit through 2032 and holds a full no-movement clause, which means he controls his destination entirely.
He is also coming off a difficult season, posting 15 goals and 51 points in 74 games with a minus-30 rating as the Canucks collapsed to a 25-49-8 record and finished last in the Western Conference.
Where Things Stand
Rick Dhaliwal poured cold water on the broader speculation this week.
"Lots of Elias Pettersson trade talk but as of now, he has not been asked to waive his no-move clause to go anywhere," Dhaliwal posted. "Lots of chatter but don't believe anything is close."
New Canucks GM Ryan Johnson has spoken about resetting the culture in Vancouver, and the organization has been reported as motivated to move Pettersson, but his value is arguably at an all-time low.
Trading him now, coming off the worst season of his career, would mean selling at the bottom.
The Kings' call was a first conversation rather than a near-miss, and with Los Angeles cap-strapped and Vancouver unwilling to move him cheaply, this one looks far more likely to resurface later than to get done this summer.
