Friedman reveals door is closing for Elias Pettersson in Vancouver

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David Macintyre
August 24, 2023 (4:09 PM)

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End of the Road?

Elias Pettersson is one of the faces of the Vancouver Canucks, though recent comments has made his future with the team seem murky. Based on more recent remarks by insider Elliotte Friedman, it could look even more unlikely Pettersson stays in Vancouver long-term.

During an interview with Pettersson where Friedman travelled to Sweden to meet with him, Pettersson had this to say about signing his next contract when he becomes a restricted free agent after this coming season:

"I'm not in a rush to sign. I mean, I've got one more year left over there. I don't want to rush into anything, because I still don't know myself if it's going to be short-term or long-term. But it's going to be probably my biggest contract so far, so I don't want to stress anything."

A Season of Uncertainty Ahead

This type of quote is definitely enough to get Canucks fans feeling anxious, though comments Friedman made on today's episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast seemingly aim to reassure the fanbase.

"Is there reason to panic here? Has he closed the door on the Canucks? No, I�don't believe that. He knows his next contract is going to be a big one, wherever it is. And I�don't think he's worried about that. I�think he just wants to make sure that everything is going in the right direction and I�got the sense that he is confident in what they (Canucks) have, he just wants to see the results. And as long as the Canucks do what he believes and what they're selling him they can do, I�don't think this is going to be an issue.»

There will be a season of uncertainty to come surrounding Pettersson's future in Vancouver, and what his next deal might look like if he stays. One thing's for certain, though: if the Canucks plan on competing again in the next few years, locking Pettersson up is the first order of business. His cap hit for the upcoming season is $7.35 million.

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