Report: Canucks, Pettersson yet to engage in substantive extension talks

The Vancouver Canucks haven't yet begun "substantive" extension talks with superstar forward Elias Pettersson, reports Thomas Drance and Rick Dhaliwal of The Athletic.

The two sides have stayed in touch over the offseason and the lack of significant progress on a new agreement is nothing to be concerned over, Drance and Dhaliwal add.

The 2020-21 campaign will be the final season of Pettersson's entry-level contract and he's eligible for an extension at any point. However, the Canucks appear willing to take their time on a new pact for the 21-year-old as they navigate through the ramifications of a flat salary cap for the foreseeable future.

General manager Jim Benning said earlier in November that the pandemic is currently affecting the Canucks' financial flexibility when it comes to awarding head coach Travis Green a contract extension.

Vancouver is projected to have over $24 million in salary cap space before the 2021-22 season, and the club will also need to ink defenseman Quinn Hughes to a new deal by then.

Pettersson's next deal could easily reach over $10 million per season, with the left-handed shooter averaging 0.92 points per game across his first two seasons. The young Swedish sniper, who has a Calder Trophy on his resume, also registered 18 points in 17 games this past summer in his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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