The Canucks may still be waiting for the right moment to make a move on Jake DeBrusk, but the sense around the situation is that the plan hasn’t changed.
NHL insider David Pagnotta, speaking on the Sekeres & Price Podcast, said the goal still appears to be moving the winger eventually. The issue isn’t whether Vancouver wants to do it. It’s finding the deal that fits.
“I still think the end goal here for him and for the Canucks is to eventually move him. It’s just a matter of finding the right package.
Again, I’m not sure what the ask is right now. If the Canucks find the right deal, they’re going to pull the trigger on it.”
Pagnotta framed it as a question of when, not if. DeBrusk is a useful player, but the Canucks’ competitive window and his timeline don’t line up cleanly. That makes the timing important, especially if Vancouver can cash in while his trade value is strong and his contract still looks friendly.
Asked whether he was surprised DeBrusk was still in Vancouver, Pagnotta gave a measured answer.
“Yes and no.”
He pointed to the fact that DeBrusk is only in year three of a seven-year extension, with $5.5 million still attached to the deal. “That’s why I’m not overly shocked that we haven’t seen anything yet.”
Pagnotta also floated the idea that the ask could eventually change enough to get something done. With the Sedins and new general manager Ryan Johnston looking to put their stamp on the roster, a trade for a prospect or draft picks could be the kind of move that better matches where the Canucks are headed.
For now, though, there’s no urgency to force it this summer. Vancouver can wait. But as the season wears on and the losses start to pile up, the noise around DeBrusk is likely to get louder.
In Other News...
Kings Fans Just Got A Reality Check On Elias Pettersson Rumors
Elias Petterssons name popped back into the rumor mill this week after reports surfaced that his family bought a home in Los Angeles, a detail that was enough to send Kings fans down the trade-deadline rabbit hole. It was an easy connection to make, given Los Angeles need for a long-term first-line center, but the Canucks side of the picture has remained more grounded in the reality of Petterssons situation and what Vancouver needs from him moving forward.
NHL analyst David Pagnotta said the Kings did have real interest, but their focus is elsewhere for now, which takes some immediate heat off the speculation. For Vancouver, the priority is still to get Pettersson back on track after a difficult season, with the organization looking more at his development and recovery than at moving him out of town. [Read more 🡒]
Brendan Gallaghers First Canucks Take Hits A Nerve Before Camp
Brendan Gallaghers arrival in Vancouver has already given the Canucks a different kind of storyline to carry into camp. After 14 seasons in Montreal, the 34-year-old forward is settling in with a new club, and his first public read on the room was encouraging. In a recent podcast interview, he said he had met with teammates and came away impressed by how engaged and motivated the group already is.
For a Canucks team trying to shape its identity before the season begins, that kind of early buy-in matters. Gallagher also stressed how important team culture is in a dressing room, and he sounded eager to add to that environment rather than simply join it. The next question is how that perspective translates once the puck drops and the routine of a new market really begins to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Knies Keeps Landing In A Leafs Conversation Fans Hate
Matthew Knies spent part of the offseason giving Maple Leafs fans something lighter to talk about, posting a photo after making a hole-in-one on the golf course. It was the kind of casual summer moment that usually sits well with a team heading toward camp, especially with Toronto still sorting through a roster that could look different under new general manager John Chayka.
But Knies keeps surfacing in a much less cheerful Leafs conversation, the kind supporters would rather avoid as training camp approaches. With on-ice sessions set to begin Sept. 17, every bit of roster chatter gets louder, and Knies remains one of the names tied to the possibility of change as Toronto weighs its next moves. [Read more 🡒]