Elias Pettersson Trade Rumors Swirl, But Agent Says There's No Fire Behind the Smoke
As the Vancouver Canucks navigate a rough stretch in what's quickly becoming a lost season, the trade winds have started swirling around some of their biggest names - including star forward Elias Pettersson. But according to his agent, J.P. Barry, fans shouldn't read too much into the noise just yet.
The Canucks, sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings with a 17-28-5 record, have signaled a shift toward a full rebuild. That’s naturally opened the door for speculation around potential moves, especially involving high-profile players with big contracts. But Barry, speaking on the Donnie and Dhali podcast, made it clear: this isn’t the first time Pettersson’s name has come up in rumors, and it likely won’t be the last - but that doesn’t mean a trade is imminent.
“I take it with a grain of salt,” Barry said. “When a team isn’t doing well, everybody’s going to be discussed.”
And he’s right. When a team is struggling, no name is off-limits in the rumor mill. But Barry emphasized that talk is cheap unless there’s actual movement from the front office - and so far, there hasn’t been.
“For us, we know it’s not real unless the GM is calling us and saying there’s an actual team or a deal and ‘would you consider it?’” Barry said. “So, nine out of ten times, it’s just a rumor.”
That’s an important distinction, especially considering Pettersson’s contract situation. He’s locked in with Vancouver on an eight-year, $92.8 million deal that runs through the end of the 2031-32 season.
That deal includes a no-movement clause, which gives Pettersson significant control over his future. Without direct outreach from the Canucks’ front office - and without Pettersson’s approval - any trade talk is just background noise.
Canucks Snap Skid with Gritty Win Over Capitals
While the long-term future remains uncertain, the Canucks did get a much-needed dose of positivity on the ice Wednesday night. Vancouver finally snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals at Rogers Arena - and it wasn’t short on drama.
Washington jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period, capitalizing on back-to-back power plays. Dylan Strome opened the scoring at 8:25, and less than 90 seconds later, Justin Sourdif doubled the lead.
But the Canucks didn’t fold. Brock Boeser cut the deficit to 2-1 with a timely goal at 13:32, giving the home crowd a reason to get back into it. Evander Kane followed up with the equalizer, tying the game before the end of the first period - a sign of life from a team that’s been searching for answers.
In the second, Vancouver kept the pressure on. Drew O’Connor gave the Canucks their first lead of the night at 8:58, and Filip Hronek made it 4-2 just over three minutes later. Strome added his second goal of the game to bring Washington within one, but the Canucks held on for the win - their first in nearly a month.
It was a gritty, resilient performance from a team that’s been under the microscope and under pressure. And while one win doesn’t change the broader outlook - especially with a rebuild looming - it was a reminder of the talent and pride still in that locker room.
Vancouver will look to build on that momentum Friday night when they host the New Jersey Devils. For now, though, the focus remains on the ice - not the rumor mill.