Contract Dilemma For Several Canucks Could Lead to Trades Sooner Rather Than Later
Photo credit: NHL.com
Some changes coming to contracts for several members of the Vancouver Canucks could lead the team to consider a trade or two leading up to Canada Day.
The Vancouver Canucks are going to have some big decisions to make between now and the start of free agency on Tuesday, July 1st at 9:01 am PT with a number of players on their NHL roster.
While Patrik Allvin and the team's management staff are hoping to make a big splash this summer, before they do that, they need to figure out what pieces they want to keep as well as who could be expendable to help them land that player(s) they need to put them over the top and potentially, into the Stanley Cup Playoffs next April.
Contract changes could lead to big decisions for Vancouver Canucks & Patrik Allvin
As of July 1st, five members of the Vancouver Canucks will have trade protection added to their contracts for the 2025-26 season and beyond, which will make it difficult to move those players once those clauses go to effect.
Those five players are - forwards Elias Pettersson and Drew O'Connor, defensemen Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson, as well as goaltender Kevin Lankinen, who was a bright spot for the team all season long and earned a five-year extension back in February.
For Elias Pettersson, he'll have a full no-movement clause until the end of the 2031-32 season, while Filip Hronek (2025-26 to 2027-28), Marcus Pettersson (2025-26 to 2027-28) and Kevin Lankinen (2025-26 to 2026-27) will also have NMCs in their respective deals, before switching over to 15-team no-trade clauses.
As for Drew O'Connor, who was acquired from Pittsburgh in January, his two-year contract includes a 12-team no-trade list, with the 27-year-old set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.
"Five Vancouver Canuck players will have their trade protection change starting in 2025.
Elias Pettersson: Full NMC (2025-2032)
Filip Hronek: Full NMC (2025-2028), 15 Team NTC (2028-2032)
Marcus Pettersson: Full NMC (2025-2028), 15 Team NTC (2028-2031)
Kevin Lankinen: Full NMC (2025-2027), 15 Team NTC (2027-2030)
Drew O'Connor: 12 Team NTC (2025-2027)" Canucks Army said on X."
Elias Pettersson: Full NMC (2025-2032)
Filip Hronek: Full NMC (2025-2028), 15 Team NTC (2028-2032)
Marcus Pettersson: Full NMC (2025-2028), 15 Team NTC (2028-2031)
Kevin Lankinen: Full NMC (2025-2027), 15 Team NTC (2027-2030)
Drew O'Connor: 12 Team NTC (2025-2027)" Canucks Army said on X."
If Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks are not feeling comfortable with any of those contract clauses, then he could decide to move a player before July 1st, while the team still has full control over where they can be sent, which will maximize the return the club would get.
Of the five players mentioned above, one name that has been in the rumor mill quite often over the last 12-to-15 months is forward Elias Pettersson, who the team is reportedly taking calls on, as of late May, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
It's understandable why the Canucks would be taking calls on Pettersson, especially after the poor season he had in 2024-25, however it seems more likely than not that he'll be in Vancouver's opening night lineup in October, given how much money he's owed each year and that his contract wouldn't be easy to add for most teams around the league.
The remaining four players - Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, Kevin Lankinen and Drew O'Connor - could all garner interest on the trade market this summer, especially the two top-four blue liners, but with the Vancouver Canucks wanting to remain competitive next season and beyond, it would be wise to keep them around.
Kevin Lankinen is likely to split the duties between the pipes next season, but his goaltending partner remains a bit of a question right now as Thatcher Demko, who is eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1st, has been mentioned in trade rumors recently.
Moving Thatcher Demko would make room for Latvian netminder Arturs Silovs on the NHL roster, which would be well deserved after the incredible run he's having with the Abbotsford Canucks in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, helping them reach the Final, where they have a 1-0 lead over Charlotte.
There could be plenty of change to the Vancouver Canucks' roster by the time the puck drops in early October and it's going to be very interesting to see what moves Patrik Allvin is able to accomplish this summer in order to make the team better.
Previously on CanucksDaily
| POLL | ||
JUIN 14 | 1652 ANSWERS Contract Dilemma For Several Canucks Could Lead to Trades Sooner Rather Than Later Of these two players, who do you think is more likely to be traded by the Vancouver Canucks before July 1st? | ||
| Filip Hronek | 914 | 55.3 % |
| Elias Pettersson | 738 | 44.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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