Vancouver Canucks Sign Elias Pettersson To A Contract Extension
The Vancouver Canucks announced they’ve signed Elias Pettersson to an eight-year, $92.8 million contract extension. The average annual value is $11.6 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Chris Johnston reports Pettersson will carry the NHL’s fifth-highest cap hit starting next season. Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews leads the pack with $13.25 million, followed by the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6 million), the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid ($12.5 million) and the New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin ($11.642 million).
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
It’s also just slightly more than Toronto’s William Nylander. On January 8, he inked an eight-year, $92 million contract ($11.5 million AAV).
Some of you will argue that the Canucks overpaid for Pettersson and that he’s not worth that much. However, the stats say otherwise. Since his Calder Trophy debut in 2018-19, he leads the Canucks in total goals (165) and points (398) while sitting third in assists with 165. He’s regularly finished among their top-two scorers each season (including two first-place finishes) except for his injury-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
Pettersson tallied a career-high 102 points last season, becoming the first Canuck to reach 100 points since Daniel Sedin in 2010-11 and only the fifth in franchise history to do so. With 75 points in 62 games this season, he could reach 100 points again.
The Canucks are enjoying their best season in years, jockeying for first place in the overall standings. They believe their Stanley Cup window is opening. To win hockey’s holy grail, they need a strong core.
Pettersson is key to that core and will remain so through his playing prime. If he maintains his recent offensive output throughout that contract it will be money well spent.
I always liked Petersen but I would put him in the category of a Aho,Hughes,Hoope and not the upper tier of centers Mcdavid ,Matthews, or Mackinnon!
Over the last 3 years he’s ranked 15th in overall scoring. Nylander ranks 12th.
I think both are slightly overpaid, but that’s the unfortunate world we live in. You have to pay YOUR best players the big dollars.
Comparing every contract to Mcdavid / Mackinnon is a waste of time, unless of course you have the opportunity to choose them over x player.
They didn’t. Debate over.
Too true, CaptainObvious. It isn’t the cost of a McDavid, Matthews, MacKinnon that is hamstringing teams … it’s the high cost of mediocrity. And there are plenty of those floating about.
Just the opposite CO, the debate has just begun.
The contract could turn our to be: bad, ok, good or excellent.
Time will tell.
But for today it’s an overpayment.
Being top 15 in scoring over the past 3 years and being paid like a top 5-6 is a bit of an overpayment. A little closer look he ranks 7th over the last 2 years, paid like a top 5-6. Pretty close!
But what were their realistic other options?
Let him walk? Trade him?
Where does that type of production he puts up come from?
A comparable they can find cheaper?
Right now, players in the top 20 aren’t available.
One thing Pettersson is NOT – and that ‘s mediocre – not even close
Agreed George,
The only slight I’ve ever seen on this guy was “injury prone”.
Which he seems 3 years removed from.
Petey scores, plays the PP, and the PK, and is among League leaders in blocked shots by forwards. Things that players like Nylander can’t, or won’t do.
Alright I’m going to go ahead. and flip flop here.
With all this in mind, and a closer look at his stats. This guy may be In UNDER paid.
Lol, no. Not even close.
Based on present production.
Debate Over! 😉
Present production =10th in the league. That’s a problem?
Lol.
More than Marner, 2 points less than Mathews?
No matter how you look at this, 3 year clip, 2 year clip, current scoring. He’s between 7th and 15th in the league.
What’s the issue? He’s not 1st?
Now this debate is really over!
This is great. I also feel like now the contract worries and the media buzz have passed, he will likely play even better.
Never underestimate the effects of this chatter on the level of play.
Every contract is an overpay.
And
These are the players fans pay to see.
Petterson should not be a 12 million dollar player but that is the market for what Captain Obvious points out, is at worst, the 15th best skater in the league.
The Canucks now have a two, maybe three year window to win it all unless the cap really ramps up.
Hopefully they can pull it off.