Critical update released on Elias Pettersson's future in Vancouver

Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson is enjoying a tremendous year, tied for the NHL lead with 27 points and has helped his team to an impressive 12-4-1 mark so far through the first 17 games of the season. 

He also happens to be in the final year of the three-year, $22.05 million bridge deal that he agreed to in 2021. He can become a free agent after this season, and should he hit the market, he'll certainly be highly coveted. 

But according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger said Thursday on Insider Trading, it sounds as though there is progress being made on a new deal to keep Vancouver's 1st round pick in 2017 around for the long haul.

"There’s less of a sense of urgency in Vancouver as compared to what’s going on with William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but that’s not saying that Elias Pettersson isn’t a high priority for the Vancouver Canucks – obviously he is, given the talent and everything he brings to the organization," Dreger said. "General manager Patrik Allvin acknowledged earlier this week that there’s good communication between the Canucks and CAA Hockey, who represent Pettersson. But it’s still too early to get to a place where you’re swapping comps or you’re swapping parameters. "There’s a chance this gets done in-season but we’re going to have to wait and see."

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