It’s been a tough last two seasons for Elias Pettersson. After earning an eight-year, $11.6 million AAV extension following a 100-point campaign in 2022-23, and another over-a-point-per-game season in 2023-24, the Swedish centre has “lost his fastball” offensively.

In his first year with his big boy contract, Pettersson battled injury, scoring just 15 goals and 45 points in 64 games. It was a disappointing season, but was excused by many due to a year filled with off-ice issues. The 2025-26 season was supposed to be a fresh start, where Pettersson could bounce back to the player Canucks fans were used to seeing. But as we all know, that didn’t happen.

Pettersson played 10 more games but scored the same number of goals (15) and only improved his point total by six (51). Many like to point to his defensive game and how much that has improved, but strictly defensive players don’t get paid what Pettersson is making.

There’s been a clear decline in his skating speed, ability to drive play, and willingness to attack the middle of the ice and to challenge opponents downhill on his own. That’s on him and explains the decline in play. However, it’s fair to question whether Pettersson has truly been put in the best situations over the past two years in order to produce like the player he once was.

Over the last two seasons, Pettersson hasn’t necessarily been given the elite linemates to help him out of his funk. The old regime thought they found Pettersson his forever winger in Jake DeBrusk, signing him to a seven-year, $5.5 million AAV contract in the 2024 offseason. However, the two haven’t necessarily gelled as many would believe.

As a result, we saw DeBrusk float around other linemates throughout last season. DeBrusk was still Pettersson’s most common linemate; however, Evander Kane, who is still searching for a new team, was not far behind. After that, Conor Garland, Drew O’Connor, Brock Boeser, and Linus Karlsson were the other players to play at least 150 5v5 minutes on Pettersson’s wing.

Don’t get it twisted, Garland and Boeser are serviceable wingers who have shown flashes with Pettersson, but that chemistry wittled away once the centreman started declining.

However, when an organization is paying a player $11.6 million annually, it shouldn’t matter who said player is playing with. They are expected to carry their own line and help their linemates succeed. But as we’ve covered here earlier in the week, it’s time to set new expectations for Elias Pettersson.

All who watch the Canucks closely are rooting for a Pettersson bounce-back. However, after what we’ve seen over the past two seasons, it doesn’t appear that he’s going to make that happen on his own. With that in mind, we’re posing the question: who is going to play with Elias Pettersson in 2026-27?

As currently constructed, here are Daily Faceoff’s projected forward lines for the Canucks next season:

Daily Faceoff has DeBrusk and Karlsson slated to flank either side of Pettersson’s line.

As we’ve already touched on, Pettersson and DeBrusk just haven’t fully clicked, but as of now, he likely is the favourite to start the year on Pettersson’s left side – that is if he isn’t traded by then.

The right side is the bigger question mark. Did Karlsson have a breakout rookie campaign? Absolutely. Is he ready for top-line deployment against top opposition while hovering between 18-20 minutes on a nightly basis? That might be asking a little much from the 26-year-old. Over his 79 games last season, Karlsson played over 18 minutes just once. And while he was one of the only success stories from last season, he still only produced 35 points.

Second-line wingers such as Liam Öhgren and Brock Boeser seem to be pretty locked in to flank Marco Rossi next season after developing strong chemistry throughout last season. That really only leaves two other options: Drew O’Connor and Jonathan Lekkerimäki.

O’Connor and Pettersson played just under 200 5v5 minutes together last season, but the numbers don’t suggest they necessarily gelled together. With those two on the ice at 5v5 last season, the Canucks did a fine job generating offence, generating more scoring chances and expected goals for than they allowed. However, they couldn’t capitalize as they were outscored 9-3.

The value of O’Connor playing with Pettersson is that he brings the speed that the centreman has lost over the last two seasons. The worry, however, lies in their ability to capitalize on their chances. That’s where Lekkerimäki could be the perfect complement to that line as the clear sniper. However, like the worries with Karlsson, Lekkerimäki is even more unproven than Karlsson at the NHL level. He’s had enough trouble sticking in the NHL, whether that’s performance- or injury-related.

Given how the forward group is currently constructed, there don’t appear to be clear linemates who will help Pettersson break out of his two-year slump. But what do you think, Canucks fans? Who would be your ideal linemates for Elias Pettersson in 2026-27? Let us know in the comments below!