NHL rumors: Top insider reckons Elias Pettersson's trade from Canucks is challenging due to "untouchable" $92,800,000 contract

The 2023-24 season saw the Vancouver Canucks win the Pacific Division with a set core that was expected to stay together for some time as the team looked to remain contenders. That core seems to have vanished entirely, with only forward Elias Pettersson signed to an eight-year contract.

It was the second straight season that the Canucks decided to sell a member of their core midseason. After dealing J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers last season, the Canucks' latest big goodbye was to captain Quinn Hughes, who joined the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

While different circumstances led to the trades, the Canucks' lack of consistency has been cited as a concern. Much of that inconsistency has been attributed to Pettersson's lack of production. After scoring 89 points during the division-winning season two years back, Pettersson fell from grace after signing a $92,800,000 contract with an annual average value of $11.6 million.

There have been multiple trade speculations regarding Pettersson, with insiders pointing towards a clean slate for the Canucks. But as Chris Johnston on the eponymous show on SDPN's YouTube channel on Monday, the size and no-trade clause attached to Pettersson's contract make it unmovable.

"What's untouchable probably is his contract," Johnson said. (20:30) "And he's played much better this year, too, so I'm not trying to pick on that. But he's, I'm not sure he's still viewed in the light of the guy who signed that big extension he did, right? So, I don't think he's untouchable and that they would never consider it.

"If you're making that trade at this point in time, I think it's only if you're getting surplus value back. And so, I'm not going to say that could never happen, but it's hard to see in this moment. "

Petterson left with goaltender Thatcher Demko, signed to a three-year, $25.5 million contract, and Brock Boeser, a seven-year, $50.75 million extension earlier in the year, from the core that pushed the Edmonton Oilers to a Game 7 decider during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. The team will be expected to be build a new core with new pieces.

Chris Johnston names potential "veteran players" to leave Vancouver, Conor Garland set to stay

The Canucks. signalling their rebuild, have been listening to trades for other players besides Hughes. According to Johnston, veteran players are on the trade block while 29-year-old winger Conor Garland, who has value attached to him, seems to be safe.

"This was a unique circumstance, but you're talking the Kiefer Sherwoods or maybe Teddy Blueger or Evander Kane. Some of the other guys that are especially on expiring deals," Johnson said.

"We'll see if Conor Garland gets included in that. My sense is that they don't really want to move him. I don't think anyone's untouchable. Obviously, if you've just traded Quinn Hughes, you're not slamming the phone down if someone puts something great in front of you for Garland. But it's not their intention."

Garland has scored 309 points in 511 games during his NHL career. He was handed a six-year $36 million contract extension earlier in the year, set to come into effect from next season.