Vancouver Canucks fans, brace yourselves. Elliotte Friedman said Sunday on the FAN Hockey Show that Vancouver is motivated to move some of its players, and the prices aren't ridiculously high.
That's a striking admission for a team trying to rebuild around younger pieces.
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Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser are the two names that come up immediately. And for good reason. This roster needs a teardown, not a tune-up.
Vancouver finished 25-49-8 this season, dead last in the entire league with just 58 points.
They allowed 316 goals, the worst defensive mark anywhere in the NHL.
Pettersson posted 51 points in 74 games at a $11,600,000 cap hit, his lowest output since becoming a full-time NHLer.
He finished a brutal minus-30, the kind of number that makes contenders pause before picking up the phone.
Boeser put up 48 points in 75 games, going minus-48 on the season.
That cap hit sits at $7,250,000, more digestible for teams looking for secondary scoring without breaking the bank.
Canucks prioritizing prospects and picks over immediate salary relief
Vancouver's last 10 games went 4-6-0, and head coach Adam Foote is staring down a roster that's bottom of the league in nearly every meaningful category.
Friedman's comment about prices not being ridiculous matters here. It signals the Canucks aren't holding these two hostage for a king's ransom.
They want value back for the rebuild, prospects and picks that actually matter.
Pettersson's contract runs long and large, which complicates any deal. Boeser, by comparison, is the more movable piece given his shorter term and lower number.
The bigger question is who in the league actually wants a -30 center or a -48 winger right now. Buyers exist for talent.
Buyers for declining stat lines attached to term are harder to find.
Vancouver's rebuild needs real return. Whether the right offer comes before training camp remains the open question.
Should the Canucks trade Elias Pettersson even at a discounted price?
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