The Vancouver Canucks are knee-deep in a season that’s been anything but kind. Anchored to the bottom of the standings, the team has made it clear: it’s time to hit the reset button. The front office isn’t sugarcoating it - a rebuild is underway, and the moves being made are loud and clear signals of a franchise shifting gears.
The biggest jolt came when the Canucks traded star defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. That’s not just a roster shuffle - that’s a foundational piece being moved.
Hughes has long been a cornerstone on Vancouver’s blue line, so seeing him dealt marks a seismic shift in how this team is approaching its future. Not long after, forward Kiefer Sherwood was sent packing to the San Jose Sharks, continuing a roster overhaul that’s likely not done yet.
And the next name in the rumor mill? Elias Pettersson.
The Swedish center, once the face of the franchise and a dynamic offensive force, is having a season that’s raised more questions than answers. Through 46 games, Pettersson has tallied 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) - solid numbers for most, but a noticeable dip for a player who not long ago was lighting up the league.
Just look back at the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, where he racked up a combined 191 points in 162 games. That kind of production put him squarely in the conversation among the NHL’s elite.
So what’s changed?
Canucks head coach Adam Foote believes there’s still another gear in Pettersson’s game - and that the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics could be the spark he needs. Foote recently spoke about how the pace and intensity of international play might help the 25-year-old rediscover his top form.
“It’ll be a good marker for Petey and a good experience to get to play at that pace,” Foote said. “I think there is another pace he can play and, you know he’s aware of it. I think he knows he’s got something more to offer, I really do.”
Foote’s comments reflect the hope that a change of scenery - even temporarily - might reignite the fire in Pettersson’s game. And there’s logic behind it. International tournaments like the Olympics often bring out the best in elite players, especially those looking to prove something.
But not everyone’s buying in.
Former NHL executive and analyst Craig Button took a far more skeptical stance during a recent appearance on the Donnie and Dhali podcast. Button pushed back on the idea that Olympic competition will be the magic fix for Pettersson’s struggles.
“Isn’t that what they were saying last year?” Button said.
“I understand what Adam’s saying and you’re trying to grasp on to something in the hope that EP40 can find his game. But EP40 will find his game when EP40 decides to find his game, whenever that game is.”
Button didn’t stop there. He went as far as to compare Pettersson’s trajectory to that of Jonathan Huberdeau, suggesting the Canucks’ star might already be past his peak.
“I respect that he’s acknowledging he’s got to be better,” Button added. “He acknowledged that there are signs when he’s got to give a little bit more, but I’m straightforward with you guys. He might be the Vancouver Canucks’ Jonathan Huberdeau; his best days might be behind him.”
That’s a tough pill to swallow for Canucks fans - especially considering Pettersson is only two years into an eight-year, $92.8 million contract. There’s still six years left on that deal, and Vancouver needs him to be more than just a name on the marquee. They need him to lead this next chapter, or at the very least, rebuild his value if a trade becomes the eventual play.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will offer Pettersson a unique stage - one where he’s not wearing Canucks colors, not carrying the weight of a rebuild, and not surrounded by the same questions that have followed him all season. If there’s a moment for him to flip the script, this could be it.
Now it’s up to him to seize it.