Frank Seravalli thinks Elias Pettersson may not be finishing this season in Vancouver, but that doesn’t mean a trade is sitting right around the corner.
On Oilers Now, the NHL insider was asked whether the Canucks centre would still be with the team by the end of the year. His answer was blunt: “I don’t think so.”
Seravalli said Vancouver has tried to get Pettersson back on track, but he doesn’t believe the situation is going to resolve itself there. Still, that was a prediction, not a report that a move is already in motion.
The whole thing comes down to value, and Pettersson’s is hard to read right now. He put up 102 points in 2022-23 and followed that with 89 the next season, but his numbers have dropped sharply since then.
He finished with 45 points in 2024-25 and 51 last season. If he gets back to his old level, Vancouver suddenly has a much stronger hand in any trade discussion.
If he starts slowly again, interested teams have to balance the upside against an $11.6 million annual cap hit that runs through 2031-32. On top of that, his no-movement clause means he gets a say in where he goes.
One path Seravalli’s comments point toward is Detroit, though it would be a two-step process. Dylan Larkin’s trade request opens the door for the Red Wings to move him to a contender first, then use the picks, prospects or young players they get back to go after Pettersson as the centrepiece of their next move. In that scenario, Larkin would never have to go to Vancouver.
That kind of setup could solve two problems at once: Detroit would fill the gap left by Larkin, while Vancouver would get the future pieces it would want in a Pettersson deal. But it’s not simple.
The Red Wings would have to decide whether Pettersson is the right place to spend the assets they get from moving Larkin, especially with Pettersson carrying the bigger cap hit. And, as always, Pettersson would have to approve Detroit as a destination.
Minnesota is another team worth watching, at least in theory. The Wild were reportedly one of the places Larkin would consider, and if they miss on him, Pettersson could become an alternative at centre.
He would also reunite with former Canucks teammate Quinn Hughes. There’s no sign Minnesota has made an offer for Pettersson; it’s just a possible fit.
Dallas is even more of a long shot, but it’s not impossible to imagine why the Stars would look. They have a deep, dangerous roster, and Pettersson would add another offensive layer. Even so, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston and Matt Duchene already give Dallas plenty of answers down the middle, so finding a clean role for Pettersson - and room for his contract - would be the challenge.
What Vancouver gets back will depend heavily on how Pettersson performs. If he comes out strong, a first-round pick and a quality young player or prospect could be in play, likely with salary heading back the other way.
That kind of package could even be built by Detroit if it first cashes in on a Larkin trade. But if Pettersson’s production stays close to last season’s level, teams may be less willing to pay top dollar while taking on the rest of that contract.
Seravalli’s read may end up being the right one. For now, though, the Canucks have every reason to wait and see whether Pettersson can raise his value before the market gets serious.
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