Elias Pettersson’s Agent Weighs In on Trade Rumors, No-Move Clause, and His Future in Vancouver
As the NHL trade season heats up, Elias Pettersson’s name has found its way into the rumor mill-a familiar place for any star player on a team facing adversity. But according to his agent, J.P. Barry, fans and insiders might want to pump the brakes before jumping to conclusions.
Speaking on the situation, Barry offered a grounded perspective on the buzz surrounding the Vancouver Canucks center. “When a team isn’t doing well, everyone’s name ends up in the mix,” he said.
“That’s just the nature of the business.” And for a player like Pettersson, who holds a no-movement clause, the stakes are even higher when speculation starts swirling.
Barry made it clear: unless the Canucks’ front office makes a formal approach with a specific deal in hand, it’s all just noise. “Nine out of 10 times, it’s just a rumor,” he said. That’s not unusual in a league where chatter can often outpace actual negotiations.
So, how is Pettersson handling all this? According to Barry, the 25-year-old Swede is staying focused.
“Yeah, I think he’s happy,” Barry said when asked about Pettersson’s mindset both on and off the ice in Vancouver. “No one’s happy when they’re losing, but he committed to being there and making the best of it.”
That commitment is important to note. Pettersson isn’t looking for the exit-at least not right now.
But Barry acknowledged that the end of the season could bring broader conversations about the team’s direction and the future of its core players. “There’s gonna be all kinds of discussions at the end of this year,” he said.
“We can’t avoid that.”
One of the biggest wild cards in all of this is Pettersson’s no-movement clause-a contractual safeguard that gives him control over where he could be traded, if at all. If the Canucks were to approach him about waiving it, Barry said that would be a serious conversation between player and agent. But it’s not something they’re actively entertaining at this point.
“Where it gets problematic is when things get public,” Barry explained. “People think the player should automatically waive [the clause] to wherever the team wants. But when you have that kind of leverage, you’ve essentially paid for it-sometimes at the cost of a million dollars or more.”
That clause isn’t just a line in a contract-it’s a hard-earned right. And Barry emphasized that if trade talks ever do become real, Pettersson would only consider a move that makes sense for him personally and professionally. “It has to be a location that works for both sides,” he said.
For now, though, the Canucks center remains focused on the ice. He’s in Vancouver, he’s committed, and despite the team’s struggles, he’s not looking for a way out. As Barry put it, unless there’s a call from the GM with a real offer on the table, this remains just what it is-speculation.
And in the NHL, that’s something you can count on every trade season.