Canucks Insider Reveals Update On Elias Pettersson Trade Talks

The idea of an Elias Pettersson trade has been a topic of conversation around the Vancouver Canucks all summer. Has there been any traction on a deal?

Buzz started to pick up over the last week when video surfaced of the beleaguered center practicing in Los Angeles. The question of a trade to the LA Kings started making the rounds once again. 

Insider Rick Dhaliwal addressed the Pettersson rumors on the Canucks Conversation podcast this weekend:

His wife's from LA. I mean, most likely that's the reason he's there. You're allowed to practice anywhere in the world. Like, would you prefer him not to train? Doesn't matter where they train, as long as they train! 

As far as I know, when I checked in last night, a Pettersson trade never got close in the last few months. The Canucks never went to his agent and said, 'Hey, we got a team. Will you waive (your no-move clause) to go to this team?'

There's been a lot of conjuncture. There's been a lot of talks. There's a lot of teams checking in... (But) It's not an easy trade to make. Still a lot of term left on that deal. It's not not two or three years, guys. Six years! 

The Canucks may have no choice but to... go to camp, see how he plays, maybe try again at the trade deadline.

With an $11.6 million cap hit for another six seasons, it's a tough sell for a player who has turned into a 50-point man the past two years. Dhaliwal confirmed that rival teams are looking for some significant retention on Pettersson's money to even start a conversation with them. 

I know for a fact that one team told me... to get in the Pettersson talks, they need retention. Two, two and a half, close to three (million) per year to make it work. It's not an easy contract to move.

So the short answer is, no, there isn't anything close on a Pettersson trade. But everyone's still on vacation, enjoying their summer. As we all know, all it takes is one phone call, and anything can happen. 

But when push comes to shove, Vancouver fans need to get used to the fact that EP40 will be there in Penticton when the Canucks open training camp on September 17th.