Canucks Face Challenges in Trading Pettersson, Garland

Long-term contracts complicate potential deals for star forwards

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Vancouver Canucks are considering trading forwards Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland before the NHL trade deadline, but the long-term contracts they signed with the team in recent years are complicating potential deals. Pettersson is under contract through the 2031-32 season with an $11.6 million cap hit, while Garland is signed through the same season with a $6 million cap hit. The Canucks' decision-making this week will signal how they feel about these long-term investments as the team pivots toward a potential rebuild.

Why it matters

The Canucks' willingness to trade Pettersson and Garland, despite their long-term deals, suggests the team may be looking to overhaul its roster and start a rebuild. However, the hefty contracts of the two players could limit the trade market and the return the Canucks can expect, complicating their efforts to retool the team.

The details

Pettersson, a former elite offensive player, has struggled to regain that form, which could affect his trade value. Garland is a strong two-way forward, but his contract may be difficult for other teams to take on, especially mid-season. The Canucks will have to weigh the pros and cons of keeping the players versus trading them and accepting a potentially lower return due to the contract situations.

  • The NHL trade deadline is on Friday, March 3, 2026.

The players

Elias Pettersson

A forward for the Vancouver Canucks who is under contract through the 2031-32 season with an $11.6 million cap hit.

Conor Garland

A forward for the Vancouver Canucks who is under contract through the 2031-32 season with a $6 million cap hit.

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What they’re saying

“He has played at a higher level than last season, when his name first circulated in trade rumors, but remains a long way off the performer he was when Vancouver signed him to a $92.8 million, eight-year extension in March 2024.”

— Chris Johnston, The Athletic writer (The Athletic)

“Garland signed a six-year extension with the Canucks last summer, but he has since seen the team pivot to a rebuild. He is a strong skater who is unafraid to skate through opponents despite his diminutive size. More of a playmaker than a goal-scorer, he's an excellent complementary piece who can be counted on to produce at a 50-point pace. Teams are interested in the player, but moving this kind of contract might be better tackled in the offseason.”

— Chris Johnston, The Athletic writer (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Canucks will have to decide by Friday's trade deadline whether to trade Pettersson, Garland, or both, and how to handle their long-term contracts.

The takeaway

The Canucks' willingness to potentially trade Pettersson and Garland despite their long-term deals suggests the team is open to a rebuild, but the hefty contracts of the two players could limit the trade market and the return the Canucks can expect, complicating their efforts to retool the roster.