Elias Pettersson’s agent says long-term contract extension talks will take place this summer

Don’t be too concerned about Elias Pettersson going the way of Matthew Tkachuk. At least, not if his agent is to be believed.

J.P. Barry, who represents Pettersson and numerous other clients through CAA, appeared Wednesday on the “Got Yer’ Back” podcast with Pierre LeBrun and Ryan Rishaug.

Although Barry wasn’t there to announce a new contract for his client — Pettersson can’t officially sign an extension until July 1 — some of what he said should reassure Canucks fans a great deal.

“They do want to get together sometime this summer or early fall, at least, in the next few months, to try and talk about the future,” Barry said.

“We’ve stayed in contact. Elias, he’s thinking about it,” Barry added. “I think it’s going to happen. I think we’re going to sit down this summer. We’re going to talk about staying there long-term. That is the plan right now.”

Pettersson, 24, joined the 100-point club in the 2022–23 season, collecting 39 goals and 63 assists for 102 points in 80 games. The Canucks originally selected the six-foot-two Swede with the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Barry jointly represents Pettersson with fellow CAA executive Pat Brisson. The two manage a collection of the NHL’s top players, including Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrnak, Sidney Crosby, the Hughes brothers, Claude Giroux, Jason Robertson, Mathew Barzal, Owen Power, Dougie Hamilton, and Evgeni Malkin.

Pettersson could become the first Canucks player — and the fifth currently managed by Barry and Brisson — to command an eight-figure salary when he signs his next contract. His existing deal sees him paid $7.35 million annually through 2024.

Since arriving in Vancouver in 2018, Pettersson has accumulated 136 goals and 323 points in 325 games. The Canucks have only qualified for the playoffs once in that span (in 2020), with Pettersson racking up 18 points in 17 contests during the postseason bubble.

The Canucks finished the 2022–23 season in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a 38–37–7 record and 83 points in 82 games. Rick Tocchet replaced Bruce Boudreau as head coach midway through the season, but the Canucks still missed the playoffs by 13 points.