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Is now really the best time to trade Canucks’ Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser?
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Jacob Fraser
Feb 28, 2026, 12:17 EST
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As we approach the trade deadline, the trade rumours surrounding some of the Vancouver Canucks veterans have been swirling.
Conversations of whether or not the team should move off some of their veterans to kick the rebuild into high gear. The two forwards that could bring in the highest return and have been a part of this team’s core since they first put on a Canuck uniform are Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson.
The topic of whether or not the Canucks should move on from Elias Pettersson has become quite polarizing among fans throughout the Canuck market. On the other hand, the talk surrounding Brock Boeser doesn’t seem to be as controversial among the fanbase.
Both players are on pace for down seasons compared to their career averages. But is now the right time to trade either Elias Pettersson or Brock Boeser?
Elias Pettersson
Since signing his $11.6-million contract extension, Pettersson’s point production has been disappointing from the highest-paid player in the franchise’s history. The Swedish centreman has proven he’s one of the most skilled players we’ve seen in a Canucks jersey, but he has struggled to translate that to the scoresheet. 
So is this really a good time to trade EP40?
The short answer: if the Canucks can get an offer that truly blows them away, then yes, they should. Though the likelihood of that happening is quite low at this point. This season and last, Pettersson’s point totals have been less than inspiring: 45 points in 64 games last season and 35 in 50 this year – on pace for 52 points. This kind of production and his defensive game are similar to those of a solid second line centreman. 
And with the current salary cap, his $11.6 million average annual salary eats up 12% of the team’s total cap. Most teams, especially teams hoping to contend now or in the near future, can’t afford to bring in that high a cap hit. With an additional six years remaining on that deal after this season, eating some of that money to maximize the return wouldn’t be a great move for Vancouver. 
Essentially, the issue with trading him ahead of the deadline is that it would limit the teams that can trade for Pettersson, which in turn could drive down the amount those teams are willing to pay. 
Even if you’re on the side of wanting Elias Pettersson to be moved, the value still needs to be there for it to make sense to do so. 
So, is now the best time? Barring a great offer, no, it’s not. However, the offseason becomes a different story. 
The Canucks are headed for the basement of the league and are in contention for the first overall pick. The current salary cap is set at $95.5-million; on July 1, it will increase to $104-million. An $8.5-million jump opens up the possibility of a team being more willing to take in an $11.6-million player. As typical offseasons go, more teams believe they’re going to be contending that upcoming season, which means more teams would likely have interest in a player like Pettersson. 
The value of a potential return at this point in the season just isn’t quite there. In the offseason, however, the value could definitely be higher, especially as we near the draft with the potential for the Canucks to add more picks in this year’s or future drafts. 
Another consideration that needs to be weighed in the trading Pettersson discussion: if the Canucks end up with a top-two pick and take one of either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, who’s going to be their centreman? 
They’ve certainly begun to solidify their overall centre depth, bringing in Marco Rossi as part of the return for Quinn Hughes, and selecting Braeden Cootes 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, but neither of those two players will be top-line centre calibre to help McKenna or Stenberg shine on their wing. However, Pettersson has that past pedigree, and either McKenna or Stenberg would instantly become the most skilled wingers he has ever played with.
Could one of the two top prospects in this year’s draft class rejuvenate Pettersson’s offensive production? We aren’t sure he’ll ever get back to the 100-point guy we saw in 2022-23. But if whichever winger they were to take in this hypothetical scenario hits, it’s not out of the question that Pettersson bounces back to at least a point per game player with an elite play driver on his wing.
It’s a difficult conversation as to whether or not the Canucks should move on from Pettersson when you look at it logistically. This is a guy who was in the conversation for a top-five centreman in the entire league not that long ago. He just isn’t that guy anymore, but he’s the closest thing to that they have on the current roster or in the pipeline.
Brock Boeser
Shifting over to Brock Boeser, his contract is easier for teams across the league to stomach this close to the deadline. A $7.25-million contract is more manageable to add in the middle of a season. Like almost everyone else on the Canucks roster, this season has been a struggle for Boeser in terms of offensive production. 
That being said, the same expectation isn’t there for Boeser as it is for Pettersson. Boeser is known as a complementary top-six scoring winger. Teams know he isn’t quite capable of driving play and creating offence for himself. Though he has proven he can score in bunches when he’s got a legit playmaker on his line. Not many players score 40 goals in this league.
His scoring ability is in the upper echelon in the NHL; he just needs someone who can set him up. This season, he’s only managed to score 12 goals through 51 games. But it’s important to look at the centremen he’s been playing with: David Kämpf, Max Sasson and Aatu Räty – not exactly top-six playmakers.
At 29 years old, with six more seasons remaining on his current contract, he will be 36 when the contract expires. So now might actually be the best time move Boeser. Teams looking to add additional scoring to their top six, and a quick release on the power play heading into the playoffs, could view Boeser as a premium option to sure up their forward group.
There’s just something about adding a player who’s 29 years old versus a 30-year-old. It’s a year’s difference and therefore shouldn’t change much, but it’s perceived differently because of the first digit of the age.
This makes now potentially a better time than ever for the Canucks to move Boeser ahead of the deadline. The offseason conversation with Pettersson could certainly apply here to Boeser. However, Boeser’s a gamer; he’s proven he can elevate his game in the postseason. And in this case, the price a team might be willing to pay for him could reach its highest point as a deadline addition for a Stanley Cup contender. 
Trading either or both of these players would definitely be a sign of this rebuilding kicking into high gear and would certainly signify the end of an era for the Canucks. However, even if the Canucks get an offer they like, the destination and thus the return will come down to the players, as they both have full no-movement clauses.
What do you think, Canucks fans? Do you want to see the Canucks move Pettersson and Boeser? And if yes, when’s the best time to pull the trigger? Let us know in the comments below!
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