'Being Honest Without Judgment,' Canucks GM Ryan Johnson Outlines Trade Conversations With Elias Pettersson
The Vancouver Canucks are transitioning from one era to another this summer.
New Canucks GM Ryan Johnson is quickly making his mark on the franchise, hiring a new coach in Manny Malhotra and trading veteran defenseman Marcus Pettersson and left winger Nils Hoglander in separate deals.
In addition, Johnson signed a few veterans – winger Brendan Gallagher as well as defensemen Jamie Oleksiak and Luke Schenn – to stabilize the organization. But the biggest chip Johnson has right now is star center Elias Pettersson, a player who has been surrounded by trade speculation for months.
NHL Rumor Roundup: Could Penguins Pursue Stars' Jason Robertson Or Canucks' Elias Pettersson? Plus Hellebuyck Buzz
Recent rumors linked the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Dallas Stars' Jason Robertson and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, while an NHL insider wondered if the Colorado Avalanche might pursue Connor Hellebuyck.
Don't get us wrong: Johnson can and should do his best to create as much salary cap space as possible in any Pettersson trade. As it stands, the Canucks have $17.8 million in cap space, and Pettersson's $11.6-million annual salary runs for the next six seasons. So freeing themselves from that commitment will give Johnson the flexibility he needs to put together his own vision for the team. But he's not going to give Elias Pettersson away. That much is clear.
That said, it's hard to envision Pettersson being a Canuck when training camp rolls around in the fall. Pettersson isn't the only Vancouver veteran who is likely to be moved; star goalie Thatcher Demko and star forwards Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser are also likely to be traded, as they're all at least 29 years old. That's too old to be part of the Canucks when their new core is going to be at its peak.
And the same goes for the 27-year-old Elias Pettersson. It's not solely his fault that Vancouver is where they are, but Petterson does have to own some of the poor results. But a fresh start with a new organization is likely the best route for Pettersson as an individual and for the Canucks as an organization.
Is Elias Pettersson A Worthwhile Gamble For The Penguins?
The Penguins are looking for elite mid-20s talent that can be the bridge between their veterans and their young guys, and the Vancouver Canucks have an interesting yet risky piece on the trade board.
Johnson now has full license to deal Elias Pettersson, and he must hit a home run in any Pettersson trade. Pettersson can have a positive impact on any number of teams, and although he has a full no-trade clause, Pettersson can work with Johnson to engineer a deal that helps everyone involved.
It's our opinion that it's time for Pettersson, DeBrusk, Boeser and Demko to move on. If the Canucks are to move in a different direction, they have to cut ties with their old foundation. And that means Johnson can't shrink from the challenge. He has to find the best trade packages for his veterans and start anew with a different core.
He appears ready, willing and able to do that – starting with Elias Pettersson.
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This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 11:09 AM.