Projecting Elias Pettersson’s next contract with the Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have cleared out a fair amount of future cap space by buying out defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and you have think that some of that is to allocate to star center Elias Pettersson. He’s entering the final year of his three-year deal with a $7.35 million cap hit, and he’s eligible for an extension on July 1st, so you’d have to think that trying to work out an extension is a top priority for the Canucks this offseason.

So, what does that deal look like? Pettersson had a monster season, with 39 goals, 63 assists, and 102 points in 80 games, so he’ll definitely get the money, but the bigger question is the term. Does he lock up for eight seasons, or does he go short term again with the salary cap projected to increase a fair amount? There’s also the question of how much faith he has in the Canucks. Does he trust that he’d get a good team built around him considering the mess that the team is in now if he signed long-term in Vancouver?

Daily Faceoff Live took in listener questions for their Ask DFO segment, and were asked what Pettersson’s next contract will look like, and if he’d be willing to go eight seasons considering the state of the team.

Frank Seravalli: Why not, if you like it. If you believe in what’s happening, if you believe in Quinn Hughes, and you believe in some of the talent that Patrik Alvin and his scouting eye can put together around you. Unless you’re looking for a precedent-setting deal, which I don’t really get the sense that’s what drives Elias Pettersson, I would say of course.

And what is the next deal look like? Bear I have a hard time handicapping that, but I’d have to think that this is one of those $10 million AAV kind of deals, maybe plus.

You can watch the full episode here…