Will Vancouver Canucks regret turning down Pettersson-Necas trade?
Much of the Vancouver Canucks future rests on the shoulders of enigmatic superstar Elias Pettersson.
While Pettersson was seen as a can’t-miss top-line centre just a few seasons ago, a difficult 18 months have changed everything. His on-ice results have fallen off a cliff, his off-ice preparation has been criticized by Canucks coaches and management, and a feud with co-star J.T. Miller resulted in Miller being traded.
The Canucks have hitched their wagon to Pettersson. He’s their most expensive player and is signed for another seven seasons at his massive $11.6 million cap hit. But Pettersson is increasingly giving the Canucks reasons to regret that decision with his poor play and off-ice habits.
It wasn’t always guaranteed the Canucks would put their eggs in the Pettersson basket. He was nearly traded multiple times, and many of those discussions centred around electrifying winger Martin Necas going the other way.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Canucks had trade talks focused on Pettersson in early 2024 before he signed his megaextension, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Those discussions included Necas coming to Vancouver per The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta. Nothing materialized at that point.
Pettersson was also nearly traded for Necas in January 2025 before the Hurricanes traded the winger for Mikko Rantanen instead. Both deals would’ve reportedly included more pieces alongside Necas heading to Vancouver.
While no deal was made, it’s hard not to envision that the Canucks would be in a very different situation had they swapped Pettersson for Necas.
Necas outplayed Pettersson this season. The Canucks centre had just 45 points in 64 games and was largely ineffective. Necas scored 83 points in 79 games with the Hurricanes and Avalanche and outscored Pettersson’s full-season point total during just the 49 games he played with Carolina.
Necas and Pettersson are trending in opposite directions. Just swapping the two players would’ve likely made the Canucks a better team this past season. They would also be in a stronger spot financially.
Necas is a month younger than Pettersson and has one year left at $6.5 million on his contract. That’s a much more manageable cap hit than Pettersson’s $11.6 million for another seven years. While Necas is in line for a raise, it’s unlikely his next deal touches $11 million per season, even with his great play.
Beyond just swapping Pettersson for Necas on the current roster, it’s likely the Canucks getting rid of Petterssoun would’ve resulted in the Canucks holding onto Miller. They were forced to trade the now-32-year-old centre because of the feud. The deal undoubtedly made the team worse on paper, but it was necessary because of chemistry issues.
Miller wasn’t without his flaws. He had too many defensive lapses, was prone to visible outbursts of frustration, and was one half of the feud that derailed this season. But he’s still a very good player and managed to end this year with 70 points in 72 games despite all the distractions.
With Miller, Necas, plus whatever else the Canucks could’ve gotten from Carolina, it’s fair to believe that had the trade gone through, this season would’ve gone better. Perhaps the team even makes the playoffs. And if that happens, does Rick Tocchet look at this group and decide to stay on?
It’s impossible to predict the full effects of swapping Pettersson for Necas but considering the difficult spot the Canucks currently find themselves in, it’s hard not to imagine the grass would be greener.
Watching Necas bloom into a top-line player must be difficult for the team he was reportedly repeatedly offered to, but the idea behind holding onto Pettersson has never been about the short term; it has always been a bet on the 26-year-old’s upside and mouthwatering potential. There’s still time for Pettersson to fulfill his potential and become a bona fide number-one centre.
Until that happens, there will continue to be questions as to whether the Canucks made the right decision holding onto Pettersson. He can silence all the doubters with a big season next year and the Canucks are hoping that’s exactly what happens.