Canucks appearing nervous of losing star player to free agency

The Vancouver Canucks have been enjoying one of the most dramatic turnarounds in their history. The team is currently riding high and is in the top five of the NHL and is showing no signs of slowing down all thanks to its core, the coaching change in Rick Tocchet and Thatcher Demko rediscovering that he is an elite goaltender.

With all the good news circulating around the team, over the past few days the good feelings have been sucked out of the room as news is emerging that Canucks star winger is deciding to hold off negotiations on a new contract.


This was according to general manager Patrik Allvin who felt that Pettersson's group would be further along in discussions. There is still plenty of time for the Canucks and Elias' group to come together and make a deal. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent after this season who holds arbitration rights. Those rights would grant him the ability to only sign a one-year extension that would open the door to huge payday on the open market in 2025-2026.


That would be a dangerous move for the Canucks as many teams would do whatever it took to land the superstar. His body of work this year speaks for itself as he has played 44 games, scoring 23 goals, 35 assists for 58 points in a + 19. Over his past three seasons he has been consistent scoring over 30 goals a season and finishing with 102 points last year.

It's safe to say that this calibre of player cannot be lost to free agency and it would be wise for the Canucks to lock him up long term.