Elias Pettersson is drawing interest again, and Nick Kypreos says there's no urgency for the Canucks to move him.
Kypreos floated a retained salary deal. Trade him at a $9 million cap hit and Vancouver might find something that helps a rebuild.
The contract carries $11,600,000. Getting down to nine means the Canucks eat $2,600,000 of it themselves.
Retention turns an expensive contract into a moveable one. It also follows the club for as long as that deal runs.
Kypreos was clear there's no rush on any of it. That's a team with options, not one clearing a desk.
The centre put up 51 points across 74 games last season and finished at a -30.
He's been centring Jake DeBrusk and Linus Karlsson on the top line throughout camp.
Kyper says there is no urgency for the Canucks to move Elias Pettersson, but teams are taking an interest in Pettersson again. If the Canucks retain money and trade Pettersson at a $9 million cap hit, they might be able to find a deal that puts them in a better place to rebuild.
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Elias Pettersson could become more movable if Canucks retain salary
Vancouver cut 15 players on Wednesday, including prospect Adam Novotny.
That leaves 30 names and 27 healthy bodies. The limit is 23 by 2 p.m. Pacific on Monday.
The blue line carries the other Elias Pettersson, the defenceman, paired with Tom Willander.
Two men, one name, one organization. Every rumour out of that market needs a footnote attached to it.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki is waiver exempt and hasn't locked anything down. Daniel Wagner called him the biggest question in the forward group.
Thatcher Demko is injured. Chris Driedger is in on a tryout behind Kevin Lankinen and Nikita Tolopilo.
Vancouver is 0-2 through the exhibition schedule after a 3-1 loss in Calgary on Tuesday.
Edmonton visits tonight, then the Canucks open the season in Edmonton on September 29.
Four days to cut four players and decide whether a $11.6 million centre is part of the plan.
Nobody has to move anybody. That's Kypreos' entire point and it's the strongest card Vancouver holds.
So why would they do it at all? Retaining salary to move a player works like covering part of someone's rent after they've left. The place is empty and the bill still shows up.
The interest is real and the deadline isn't about him. Whether those two things ever meet is a question for a market Vancouver doesn't control.
Source : Canucks have four cuts coming and here's who they could be
Should the Canucks retain salary to trade Elias Pettersson?
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