With the NHL trade deadline (March 6) grabbing the spotlight around the league, the Canucks are not exempt from the noise. They may be dead last in the standings, but they can still hear the loud buzz from the basement. Moreover, as teams in the penthouse prepare for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they look down at the disheartened Canucks in search of a diamond in the rough.

In that regard, Pettersson may very well be a key addition for any organization with Stanley Cup hopes. Still, his personality is often frowned upon around the league, and it could steer teams away from him. When asked about the rumors surrounding his name, Pettersson delivered a stern response—one that only reinforced that perception.

“I mean, it’s you guys who make the trade rumors so ask yourself,” Elias Pettersson told reporters after practice on Monday, via Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News.

Could Pettersson be traded?

It feels like there is always drama surrounding Pettersson in Vancouver. Last offseason, the Canucks’ front office made a choice they can’t take back. During the 2023-24 season, Vancouver re-signed Pettersson to an eight-year, $92.8 million extension—an $11.6 million annual cap hit running through 2032.

However, the Canucks had only a narrow window to move him without restrictions. By keeping him on the roster past July 1, 2025, they allowed his full No-Movement Clause (NMC) to kick in. Now, if Vancouver wants to ship Pettersson out, he must waive that clause for a trade to happen.

The Canucks had their chance to control the narrative, but now Pettersson is the one firmly in the driver’s seat. It feels as though the steering wheel was handed to him the moment J.T. Miller was traded and Rick Tocchet stepped aside. However, Vancouver has only headed downhill. If he wants out and the team is keen on moving him, a deal is possible. But if he’s content to stay in British Columbia, the front office is essentially powerless.

Though many believed Hughes’ departure would only be the beginning of the end for the Canucks, goaltender Thatcher Demko still believes in Vancouver. According to a report around the NHL, the 30-year-old netminder has no plans to leave Pettersson and the Nucks.

“Demko made clear after the Hughes trade that he does not want out,” Rick Dhaliwal stated on the latest episode of Donnie and Dhali – The Team. Demko recently agreed to a contract extension with Vancouver.

Demko’s contract

As he was set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in the summer of 2026, Demko and the Canucks committed to a long-term extension during the latest NHL offseason. Following the 2025–26 campaign, Demko’s new deal will go into effect.

The former second-round selection agreed to a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension ($8.5 million cap hit) with the Canucks, running through the 2028–29 season. Demko is currently playing the final season of his five-year, $25 million deal ($5 million cap hit).

Or forever hold your peace

Though Demko is staying put in Vancouver, he still has time to reconsider his stance. With the Canucks trending toward the NHL’s basement, now may be the best time to raise his hand and ask out of the organization. Any later may be too late.

Moreover, Demko’s expiring contract carries no trade protection, whereas his new deal for the 2026–27 season includes a full no-movement clause (NMC). Of course, that clause works in Demko’s favor, as he can waive it at any time. Still, it’s easier to work out a deal when such a provision isn’t in place.

The Canucks knew this would happen. Opposites attract, and they often make for chaotic, abrupt collisions. Vancouver knew its limitations coming into the season—under a new head coach and with an impossible-to-fill void in its depth. However, fans in Vancity will never stop expecting to win the Stanley Cup.

Now, those two polarized forces are crashing together, with Hughes caught in the middle, as the NHL rumor mill suggests he may not remain in British Columbia for much longer. On that note, Hughes’ latest outburst could raise alarms around the locker room—and the city. In more ways than one, it looks like a last-ditch effort from the blueliner to save the season—and perhaps his time in Vancouver.

“I feel like I’ve seen pretty much everything under the sun here—good and bad,” Hughes vividly admitted, as reported by Daily Hive Vancouver’s Trevor Beggs on X. “And you want to win… and losing sucks.”

Hughes can’t hide his frustration

Ever since he entered the NHL as a first-round selection, Hughes has been one to wear his heart on a sleeve. After tough losses, the star blueliner is often seen frustrated during postgame media availability. It makes for funny reactions that go viral in social media, but it also goes to show the competitor in him.

Hughes is no longer a rookie nor a kid in the league. The 26-year-old defenseman wants to taste glory in the NHL. Watching his younger brothers, Jack and Luke, thrive on the other coast of the continent with the New Jersey Devils definitely leads Quinn to wonder if the grass is actually greener on the other side.

Fans may get a kick out of his candid reactions and postgame statements, but Hughes sure doesn’t. If Pettersson and the Canucks keep reaching new lows, sooner or later it may lead to Hughes asking out of Vancouver.

Canucks can’t catch a break

The Canucks are currently dragging a three-game losing skid. Moreover, they have registered just two wins in their last 11 outings. After a 3-1 start to the 2025-26 NHL season, Vancouver hasn’t won consecutive games since.

Additionally, Hughes and company could very well find themselves in last place in the entire league when they take to the ice to face the Utah Mammoth on Dec. 5 at Rogers Arena. Vancouver’s last win on home ice was on Nov. 9, when they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. Since then, the Canucks are 0-3-1 in Vancity.

As if Pettersson, Hughes, and the Canucks haven’t been through enough in the NHL campaign, more trouble is hitting the squad in Vancity. Ahead of a four-game road trip against contenders in the Western Conference, Vancouver discovered it will be without its current starting goaltender, Lankinen, due to an unexpected setback.

“General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that Kevin Lankinen will not travel with the team due to personal reasons and that Jiri Patera has been recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) under emergency conditions,” the Canucks announced through their official account, @Canucks on X.

Lankinen and Patera’s numbers

So far in the 2025-26 NHL season, the Canucks have struggled in net. Lankinen has appeared in 13 games, recording a 3.63 goals-against average (GAA) and a .880 save percentage (SV%). He has only registered four wins this season, underscoring the larger issues that continue to affect Pettersson, Hughes, and company.

As for Patera, the 26-year-old rookie has made one appearance so far in the ongoing NHL campaign. It was far from a fond memory, as Patera was under siege by the reigning Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers. Patera faced 40 shots during the Canucks’ visit to Sunrise, allowing 7 goals (.825 SV%).

Canucks’ current look in net

Now, the Canucks will be away from Vancouver for the next four games, taking on the Anaheim Ducks (Nov. 26), San Jose Sharks (Nov. 28), Los Angeles Kings (Nov. 29), and Colorado Avalanche (Dec. 2) all on the road.

With Lankinen out for personal reasons and Thatcher Demko on Injured Reserve (IR), Pettersson, Hughes, and the Canucks will place their hopes in the hands of undrafted rookie Nikita Tolopilo—who has yet to make his season debut—and Jiri Patera.

Needless to say, the team will look to Pettersson and Hughes to keep them from drifting further off course. With the pod scattered in rough seas, the Canucks need their best talents to guide them through the churning Pacific Division and back toward playoff waters.

However, instead of crumbling under pressure, the Canucks must remain together and stay the course. Hughes is making sure his team is aware of that, voicing a confident message for Pettersson and company to listen to in a challenging NHL season.

“You can always find a way to be negative. Always. But you can always find a way to be positive, too,” Hughes commented per Sportsnet. “But it’s obviously really hard to do because you’re frustrated, and it’s hard to flip a switch where nothing’s going to bother me today and I’m going to be completely positive.”

Hughes speaks from experience

Though much easier said than done, Vancouver can’t afford to dwell on its defeats for too long. Instead, the Canucks must turn the tide as they are approaching the bottom of the Pacific Division—far from their objective coming into the 2025-26 NHL season.

“I’ve been there at times this year where you’re on the negative side a bit, and you’ve just got to flip it and control what you can control. I mean, it’d be nice if we started 7-3, but we didn’t. Now we’re at where we’re at and just have to move on from here,” Hughes concluded. “Obviously, I’m never happy losing.”

For an organization still in search of its first Stanley Cup, languishing near the bottom of the standings after losing four of its last five games is far from what the Canucks expected. Something’s got to change for Hughes, Pettersson, and company, or the buzz in Vancity will grow uncontrollably.

Demko, Pettersson, and the Canucks simply can’t catch a break in the 2025-26 NHL season. During the 5-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the 29-year-old goalie exited the game with an apparent lower-body injury. If Vancouver wasn’t already facing an uphill climb, losing its netminder only made it steeper.

According to the latest reports around the league, Pettersson and company are in for a mixed bag of emotions after learning about Demko’s status going forward in the 2025-26 NHL season.

“Early indication is that Demko is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a minor injury,” insider Frank Seravalli reported on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s unrelated to his previous knee injury and unrelated to why Demko took maintenance days last week.”

Goaltending room

Demko had started 10 games out of Vancouver’s 18 outings in the NHL season, registering a 2.80 goals against average (GAA) and .903 save percentage (SV%). With the starting goalie out for 2-3 weeks, Kevin Lankinen is expected to take over the reins in net.

So far in the campaign, the Finnish goaltender records 9 appearances with only 3 wins. Moreover, Lankinen averages 3.57 GAA (second-worst among goalies with 8 or more appearances) and a .885 SV%.

With Demko out of business, Jiri Patera is next in line in Vancity. The former sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL entry Draft has yet to make his season-debut. Moreover, Patera hasn’t played since March 26, 2024. The last time he was on the ice alongside Pettersson and company, Patera allowed 5 goals on 35 shots faced (.857 save percentage), as Vancouver lost 5-4 in overtime to the Nashville Predators.

Righting the ship

Up next, the Demko-less Canucks will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Canes are 11-5-0, with four wins in their last five outings, and among the best teams in the NHL. As for Vancouver, Pettersson and company have actually performed better outside British Columbia this campaign, boasting a 5-4-0 mark away from home.

The 26-year-old Swede has shown flashes of his dynamic playmaking, yet the Canucks’ 7–8–0 start underscores a team in transition. With key players sidelined, including star goalie Thatcher Demko, Pettersson has taken on heavy top-line and defensive-zone responsibilities.

Despite modest scoring—three goals and 10 points through 15 games—Pettersson’s two-way growth has drawn praise from coach Adam Foote. For the first time, he starts nearly as many shifts in the defensive zone as the offensive, and his 31 blocked shots highlight his commitment to team defense.

How is Pettersson adjusting?

PPettersson credits his defensive instincts in part to his youth as a soccer goalie. “I don’t mind blocking shots. I was a soccer goalie at a young age, so I still have those instincts,” he said, according to Sportnet. The added strength he gained in the off-season has helped him win key puck battles, like a play that set up Brock Boeser’s overtime winner in Nashville.

However, his reluctance to shoot remains a concern, averaging just 1.53 shots per game. “I agree, I can shoot more… I’ve always been a pass-first guy, but I also know I have a good shot,” he admitted, balancing safety with opportunity under the weight of leading Vancouver’s offense.

Can Vancouver rely on Pettersson?

Foote leans on him against top opponents due to a thin forward lineup. “There’s times when you could cheat a little for offence, but most of the time it ends up with a good chance the other way. So, yeah, I’m trying to play defence-first,” Pettersson said.

Modeling aspects of his game on Swedish legends Pavel Datsyuk and Peter Forsberg, Pettersson remains focused on his own style. “I’m just trying to be me out there… I’m just trying to play hard in the right way.”

Vancouver had won 11 games a row against Chicago—going all the way back to the 2021-22 NHL season. However, when the Hawks visited the ‘Nucks at Rogers Arena, they put an end to the losing streak with a commanding triumph. At least, the scoreboard reflected that. On the ice, the action was evenly-matched, and the Canucks actually dominated most of the game.

Vancouver’s lack of efficiency in front of the Blackhawks and Spencer Knight’s net came back to bite the home team. On the other end of the ice, Hughes, Pettersson, and the Canucks did no favors to goalie Kevin Lankinen. The star defenseman in Vancouver had seen enough of his team’s missed opportunities, making his frustration clear with a blunt postgame statement.

“I didn’t see any insane saves [from Spencer Knight], did you? Yeah, so,” Hughes answered during his postgame media availability. “We had out chances in the first and second period. Then, a little bit too sloppy in the third, for sure.”

Un-knighted

After the game, Knight earned second-star honors, finishing with 43 saves on 45 shots (.956 save percentage). The former Florida Panthers netminder shut the door on Pettersson and the Canucks, denying them any chance to build momentum. In more ways than one, Knight took the wind out of Vancouver’s sails during the rainy night in Vancity. Regardless, Hughes didn’t think too highly of Knight’s outing.

“Not really, [I don’t give credit to the goaltender]. He made some good saves, but I don’t think he made any outlandish saves,” Hughes stated. “I don’t know what the shot count was, I mean he played well, but. We got some good shots to him.”

Rough night

Coming off a two-point night in the 5–4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators, Pettersson wasn’t on his A-game against the Blackhawks. Fans in Vancouver are still scratching their heads over some of his decision-making throughout the night. Perhaps the clearest sign of Pettersson’s rough outing came when he squandered a potential game-tying opportunity—choosing a drop pass that was easily broken up instead of taking the shot.

The Canucks want to see their Swedish star fire the puck more often, but that remains a work in progress. Naturally, some nights will be better than others, but Adam Foote and his staff are hoping for a little more consistency.

Kravtsov has been with Vancouver’s affiliate in the AHL, the Abbotsford Canucks, in the 2025-26 season. Despite the injury crisis and lack of depth on the Canucks, the Russian forward was unable to make the NHL roster due to his poor performance. In the minors, Kravtsov recorded just 4 points (1G, 3A) in 10 games. Moreover, he registered a -10 plus/minus, which proved costly for the reigning Calder Cup champions.

Now, the Canucks (the ones in the NHL) are taking matters into their own hands with a decisive move. As announced by general manager Patrik Allvin, Vancouver is cutting ties with the 25-year-old, effective immediately. This was the second stint Kravtsov had with the franchise in British Columbia, as he had appeared in 16 games during the 2022-23 campaign.

“Vitali Kravtsov has been placed on unconditional waivers for purpose of contract termination,” the Canucks announced through an official statement on X (formerly Twitter).

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Allvin and the Canucks knew the odds weren’t on their side when signing Kravtsov. Though the Russian winger was coming off a career year in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), it was still a long shot for him to establish his game in the NHL. Moreover, Pettersson and the Canucks are under heavy pressure, as fans in Vancity demand results. So, the chances of Kravtsov arriving and making an early impact were always slim to none.

Regardless, the Canucks have little to worry or feel regretful about. After handing Kravtsov a league-minimum $775,000 deal, Vancouver has now terminated the contract. In just a matter of days, fans in town will have forgotten about the failed experiment.

The ‘Nucks lost more time than money, though some might argue the former is far more valuable. Still, in today’s NHL—where the salary cap dictates nearly every business decision—that claim can be disputed.

Ever since leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos has seen a significant decrease in his production. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and in Music City the tunes are no better than they were in the Big Guava. For the former first overall pick in 2008, a fresh start might make all the difference in the world.

On that note, the Canucks may offer the best scenario in the NHL. Pettersson and company are witnessing the effects of a lackluster depth at the most important forward position. Though Stamkos’ recent numbers are anything but exciting, the veteran could still revamp the roster in Vancity.

“The Canucks are working the phones. They’re trying to get a centerman, they’ve called everybody. Someone told me the Canucks are poking around Steven Stamkos. It’s no surprise,” as reported on Donnie and Dhali – The Team.

Why not?

At first, trading for a 35-year-old center whose best days in the NHL are past him may sound delusional. However, the Canucks are in a position where such bold moves are needed. They can pay off, or they can backfire tremendously, but staying idle won’t do Vancouver any favors, either.

“If you’re the Canucks and you’ve got 8 guys injured—3 or 4 of them in the top-six— you know your heddle is out. You’re calling every centerman you think could be available,” Rick Dhaliwal and Don Taylor added. “You have to look at everybody, it’s desperation time. Vancouver is calling everywhere.”

Lend them a hand

Still, in order to complete a trade for Stamkos, the Canucks would need some assistance from the Predators—or any other franchise willing to take on dead cap space.

“Nashville would have to eat a part of [Steven Stamkos’ $8 million cap hit]. The Preds would have to eat, at least, $2 to $3 million to make it somewhat [achievable],” Rick Dhaliwal and Don Taylor commented.

Big decision

It’s risky business. The stakes are high for Pettersson and the Canucks in the 2025-26 NHL season. As the saying goes, scared money makes no money. However, committing to a regressing veteran—whose contract runs through the 2027-28 campaign—could chain Vancouver to a top-dollar problem.

On the flip side, perhaps Stamkos’ dip in production is merely a byproduct of the turmoil in Smashville. Who knows what Vancouver might be missing out on by judging a book by its cover.

Miller and the Canucks will meet for the first time since March 22, when Vancouver travelled to the concrete jungle in Manhattan. This time around, however, it will be the Rangers captain who plays on the road. As he enters Rogers Arena, the fan reaction to the former Canuck is up in the air.

It didn’t take long before Miller was asked about facing off against Pettersson, who he might come across several times at the dot. On that note, the Rangers captain didn’t put much thought into the drama-filled personal matchup.

“[Matching up against Pettersson] is going to be like all the rest of them. That’s a really good line, I know they have been putting some pucks in the net,” Miller noted. “Nothing changes for me. It’s the same conversation, if we don’t check and play the right way, it’s going to be easier for the other line. So, just like any other game.”

The way it is

Last NHL season, the buzz around Miller, Pettersson, and the Vancouver Canucks became extremely invasive. Once drama reached its boiling point, there wasn’t much Vancouver could do but split up the two players. As a result, Miller was sent back to the Rangers. Asked on whether he had any regrets, Miller delivered a straightforward message.

“Everything happens, you can’t go back and change anything. Obviously, it’s ugly sometimes at the end. But I think for the majority of the time I was here, it was a lot of good things. I’m not going to sit here and dwell over the way it ended,” Miller admitted. “I didn’t expect that to be pretty. Definitely, [taking] a lot of friendships, good memories and good things that came from that experience.”

No grudge

Some believe Miller is coming into the game with a chip on his shoulder, but the Broadway Blueshirts’ skipper dismissed such claims, voicing a composed statement.

“I really don’t look at how I was painted [by media]. All I care about is my family, At the end of the day, it was the best for both sides, we moved on,” Miller added. “We’re so far past that. No, honestly no. [I don’t have anything to prove tonight]. I like a lot about my game so far this season. I never said a bad thing about Vancouver when I left, I loved it here. It was like home away from home.”

Either way, the table is set for an electric showdown between the Canucks and Rangers, where neither side is willing to give an inch to the other. Only two points may be on the line, but morale could truly swing for the rest of the NHL season.