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Canucks Face Challenges in Trading Pettersson, Garland
Long-term contracts complicate potential deals for star forwards
Mar. 2, 2026 at 10:31pm
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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.
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
“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
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.
