Sports
No. 2 scorer Stojakovic returns to loaded Illinois
Andrej Stojakovic is back at Illinois for his senior year, boosting their title hopes!
ESPN News1 min read
NHL
What's next for Elias Pettersson? Canucks' trade candidate speaks out after rough season
TL;DR
Elias Pettersson, a key player for the Vancouver Canucks, faced trade rumors during a challenging season but ultimately remained with the team. He finished the season with 15 goals and 36 assists, contributing to the Canucks' disappointing performance.
Key points
- Elias Pettersson faced trade rumors during the season
- He finished the season with 15 goals and 36 assists
- The Vancouver Canucks had the worst record in the NHL
Elias PetterssonVancouver Canucks
What's next for Elias Pettersson? Canucks' trade candidate speaks out after rough season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Elias Pettersson has not been at his best of late for the Vancouver Canucks.
That, in part, made him a big part of trade rumors throughout the 2025-26 season, although an expensive contract made it tough to move him.
In the end, he didn't go anywhere. He finished out the season with a Canucks team that had the worst record in the NHL.
Pettersson played 74 games and tallied 15 goals with 36 assists (51 points).
He was also a minus-30, which speaks to the caliber of the Canucks but also to his decline in play from his starring role as a two-way forward that earned him a giant contract a few years ago.
Now, the offseason is underway in Vancouver, and it's not clear what the future holds for Pettersson.
MORE:Sabres' playoff ticket costs are mind-blowing
What's next for Elias Pettersson?
Pettersson himself doesn't seem to want to go anywhere.
He held his season-ending press conference with reporters on Friday and said all the right things.
"I like it here," Pettersson said. "This feels like home."
The Canucks are the only NHL team Pettersson has ever known. He has played 545 games for Vancouver over eight seasons.
If he doesn't increase his level of play, though, Vancouver will be stuck with a player at $11.6 million per year for the next six seasons that isn't carrying his weight.
Q&A
What were Elias Pettersson's stats for the 2025-26 NHL season?
Elias Pettersson played 74 games, scoring 15 goals and providing 36 assists for a total of 51 points.
Why was Elias Pettersson a trade candidate for the Canucks?
Elias Pettersson was considered a trade candidate due to his underwhelming performance and the Canucks' poor season record, although his expensive contract complicated any potential trade.
What was the Vancouver Canucks' overall performance in the 2025-26 season?
The Vancouver Canucks finished the 2025-26 NHL season with the worst record in the league.
