The Vancouver Canucks have spent much of the offseason surrounded by speculation about Elias Pettersson, but one of the latest rumors that garnered much attention seems to be falling apart.
Pettersson was recently spotted training in Los Angeles, immediately fueling chatter that the 27-year-old center could be on his way to the Los Angeles Kings. With the Kings among the teams previously linked to the Canucks star, the connection seemed to make sense on the surface.
But CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal has poured cold water on the idea that Pettersson's offseason location has anything to do with a potential trade.
Dhaliwal pointed out that Pettersson's wife is from Los Angeles, providing a much simpler explanation for why the Canucks center would be spending time in Southern California and training there during the offseason.
More importantly, Dhaliwal said a trade involving Pettersson has not come close to happening over the past several months.
There has been plenty of speculation and teams have reportedly checked in with Vancouver, but according to Dhaliwal, nothing has progressed far enough for the Canucks to even ask Pettersson or his agent whether he would be willing to waive his no-movement clause.
That distinction is significant.
Pettersson remains under contract for six more seasons with an $11.6 million average annual value, making any potential trade a complicated financial puzzle. Vancouver would need to find a willing trade partner capable of absorbing a massive commitment while also convincing Pettersson to approve the destination.
Dhaliwal believes the Canucks have little choice but to wait. The organization will reportedly want to see how Pettersson performs this season before deciding whether moving him at the trade deadline becomes a realistic possibility. A strong campaign could improve his trade value, while another disappointing season could make the situation even more difficult.
Unless something dramatically changes, Pettersson appears poised to begin the 2026-27 season in Vancouver.
And based on the latest reporting, he may very well finish it there too.