NHL Rumor Mill – August 11, 2026
The latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson and an update on the Oilers’ trade plans in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CANUCKS CONVERSATION: CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal recently dismissed trade speculation linking Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson to the Los Angeles Kings.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).
The rumors began when the 27-year-old Canucks center was spotted practicing in Los Angeles. However, Dhaliwal pointed out that Pettersson’s wife is from Los Angeles, which explains why he would be doing some offseason training there.
Dhaliwal also said a trade involving Pettersson has not come close to happening in the last few months. There’s been plenty of conjecture and teams checking in, but nothing reached the point where the Canucks would ask the center or his agent if he would waive his no-movement clause.
Pettersson’s contract remains the sticking point. He has six years remaining on his deal with an average annual value of $11.6 million. Dhaliwal believes the Canucks have no choice but to wait and see how Pettersson plays this season and if it improved their chances of moving him at the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barring a dramatic change in Pettersson’s circumstances, he’ll start this season (and likely finish it) with the Canucks.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has more salary cap space to start this season than he’s had over the previous two offseasons since taking over the role in July 2024.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: According to PuckPedia, the Oilers have over $4.725 million.
Bowman doesn’t plan on using that extra space for more additions before the regular season begins next month. Instead, he’s going to hang onto it in case any players become available early in the season that could help his club.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The longer Bowman holds off using that cap space during the regular season, the more the Oilers will accrue. If he can wait until the March 1 trade deadline, the Oilers would have over $21.8 million available.
So the question is, baring injuries what would the Oilers use the excess cap stave for?
To pay off all the “LAW SUITS” after Mike
Babcock’s short one month tenure as the
coach of the Oilers.
Possible scenario.
Please excuse my ignorance but I am not sure how Edmonton can have 4.725 in cap space in Sept. and it can balloon to 21.8 in March?
Sr: Follow this link for the explanation:
https://puckpedia.com/salary-cap/answers/cap-space-accrual
As I’ve mentioned a few times over the past weeks, Staios is also on record as not intending to spend to the cap, keeping around $4 mil in reserve with an eye to the 2027 trade deadline and, if in a playoff position, having the accrued extra cap to make more impactful trades if possible.
In Ottawa’s case, his $4,195,833 in current cap space will accrue into the area of $19.01 to $19.51 mil in usable space by the March 1, 2027 deadline
Under the new CBA, it is useless to have a 20M cap space at TDL. The only cap space you need is the amount you need to reach the 104M limit for the 20 players on the ice during the playoff.
If you are actually at 100M and add approx 20M at TDL you will be able to put on the ice a 20 man roster with a max value of 104M during the playoff forcing you to sit 16M at every game.
Doesn’t having trade deadline cap space lose some of it’s luster now that there’s a salary cap during the playoffs?
Sure you can pick up a high priced player at the deadline, but you may be forced to bench someone with significant salary once you’re in the postseason.