Canucks star Elias Pettersson may not finish season in Vancouver, says insider
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Canucks' fans and analysts have expressed dissatisfaction with Elias Pettersson's performance in the 2024-25 season and the start of the 2025-26 season due to a significant decline in his offensive production and overall impact.
In a recent episode of the Donnie and Dhali podcast, analyst Craig Button shared his thoughts on EP40, saying that if he doesn't improve his play, he may not be with Vancouver for much longer.
Analyst claims EP40 could be a buyout candidate, if he doesn't shape-up
Responding to a comment Pettersson made recently, saying, 'I gotta be better after three games,' Craig Button had this to say:
It's up to EP40 to go out and demonstrate it, because as of now, the doubts are only growing, the questions marks are only becoming larger.
Not only does he not look dangerous, he's not engaged...I'll say this right now guys, if he doesn't get his game in order, we're gonna be talking about him as a buyout candidate.
- Craig Button
Not only does he not look dangerous, he's not engaged...I'll say this right now guys, if he doesn't get his game in order, we're gonna be talking about him as a buyout candidate.
- Craig Button
In four games this season, Elias has recorded only 2 assists, while playing 17:07 TOI, far below the level of production he's been trying to reach over the last two seasons, when his point totals have fallen from 102 in 2022-23, to 89, then 45 in the last two campaigns.
The Canucks might want to get out from under Petterson's eight-year, $11.6M AAV contract before he can block a trade, given they've been down this road before with the former 5th-overall pick in 2017.
In fact, Vancouver GM Patrick Alvin had already run out of patience with EP40 last season.
«Pettersson is on the clock. There are no excuses left. His production ticked up in the weeks that Miller was absent from Vancouver's lineup, but even that wasn't necessarily at the level of an $11.6 million player. If 'Petey' doesn't play like 'Petey' again, prepare for him to be traded prior to his full 'no-trade' clause kicking in on July 1 - and before this deadline isn't out of the realm of possibility.»
Of course, the 2025 deadline passed without EP40 being traded. If he continues with the status quo however, he may not even reach this year's trade-deadline.
Of course, the 2025 deadline passed without EP40 being traded. If he continues with the status quo however, he may not even reach this year's trade-deadline.
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