Dhaliwal: 'Most Likely' He Reports to Camp in Penticton
More than seven weeks into the NHL offseason, the Elias Pettersson trade market is cooling fast. Veteran Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal now characterizes the most likely scenario as Pettersson reporting to Vancouver's training camp, set for September 17–20 in Penticton, British Columbia, with no trade completed. "Maybe they don't have money for this guy," Dhaliwal wrote, pointing to the structural challenge prospective suitors face when trying to meet both Vancouver's asking price and Pettersson's willingness to approve a destination via his full no-movement clause.
As of late July, Pettersson has not been asked by the Vancouver Canucks to waive the no-movement clause for any specific team. The 27-year-old Swedish center has not requested a trade himself. The dynamic is an unusual one: the Canucks organization has signaled openness to dealing him, but the player's own approval is the final and currently absent piece of any transaction.
Pittsburgh Made an Offer — Pettersson Said No
The Pittsburgh Penguins were among the teams to submit a formal trade proposal this summer, according to multiple reports. Pettersson declined to waive his no-movement clause for Pittsburgh. The Los Angeles Kings, previously linked as a serious suitor, have since withdrawn from the sweepstakes entirely. The Kings' exit was confirmed by insider reporting in mid-July.
Adding a new dimension to the situation, the Buffalo Sabres have emerged as a surprise name in Pettersson trade talks, according to a Sports Illustrated Breakaway report. Buffalo joins a group that also includes the Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes, and Montreal Canadiens as clubs that have had substantive discussions with Vancouver. None, however, have assembled a package that clears every hurdle simultaneously: a premium return for Vancouver, a destination Pettersson is willing to approve, and a cap structure that works on both sides.
A Contract Built for Leverage — His
Pettersson is signed through the 2031–32 season at an annual average value of $11.6 million. The full no-movement clause embedded in that deal gives him complete veto power over any trade, and it has proven to be the central obstacle all summer. Vancouver's front office has reportedly shifted its trade philosophy compared to earlier in the process: reports indicate that the current management group is more open to a futures-based return — high draft picks, young players who can grow with the organization — rather than demanding a direct star-for-star exchange. That shift has widened the pool of potential suitors, but it has not yet produced a match.
The Canucks organization publicly placed responsibility for the next move squarely on Pettersson. Whether that means accepting a destination or continuing to exercise his right to stay put remains the core uncertainty heading into August.
Window Narrowing Before Camp Opens Sept. 17
NHL training camps open in mid-September across the league, and a trade of this magnitude — involving a franchise center, a $11.6 million cap hit, and a no-movement clause — requires enough lead time for all sides to finalize terms. Every week that passes without a deal narrows the realistic summer window. Unless a team emerges with both the package Vancouver wants and an approved destination, Pettersson will be on the ice in Penticton when camp opens and likely skating for the Canucks on opening night of the 2026–27 season.