The Canucks wasted little time getting pen to paper on a cope with considered one of their new acquisitions. The staff announced that they’ve signed defenseman Marcus Pettersson to a six-year extension that may carry a cap cost of $5.5M. GM Patrik Allvin launched the next assertion:
“In simply a few video games, Marcus has already proven us the kind of management, poise and character that we wish in a high 4 defenceman,” stated Allvin. “He has a relaxing affect on the ice, makes use of his lengthy attain and hockey smarts to interrupt up performs and has a superb first go to assist us create extra offensively. We’re extraordinarily comfortable to get this deal completed and stay up for working with him in each the quick time period and long run.”
In fact, Allvin’s familiarity with the 28-year-old is rather more than simply a few video games. He was with Pittsburgh on the time that then-GM Jim Rutherford (who now’s in Vancouver’s entrance workplace) acquired him so they’re fairly accustomed to what Pettersson brings to the desk. That familiarity undoubtedly performed a job within the Canucks flipping the first-round choose they acquired within the J.T. Miller commerce final week (together with Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, and Melvin Fernstrom) to Pittsburgh for Pettersson and Drew O’Connor.
Pettersson has performed in 49 video games this season between Pittsburgh and Vancouver, potting three objectives and 15 assists together with 86 blocks and 60 hits whereas logging greater than 22 minutes an evening of ice time. That has him at a 30-point tempo which might match his career-high offensively from final season; that uptick in manufacturing actually didn’t damage his worth as he was heading towards his first run at unrestricted free company this summer season which is now on maintain for a very long time.
For his profession, Pettersson has performed in 493 NHL video games over elements of eight seasons between Anaheim, Pittsburgh, and now Vancouver. After struggling early in his tenure with the Penguins, he has since established himself as a authentic top-four blueliner for the final three years. That observe file was ok for Vancouver to focus on him and waste little time locking him up by means of the 2030-31 season.
The deal represents a pleasant elevate for Pettersson. He’s within the ultimate yr of a five-year contract signed again in 2020, one which carries a cap hit of simply over $4M. He’ll add almost $1.5M per season to that quantity now whereas additionally touchdown some further safety. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Interval experiences (X link) that Pettersson can have a full no-move clause within the first three seasons of the contract. Within the ultimate three years, his commerce safety will come within the type of a 15-team no-trade clause.
With this signing, Vancouver now has just a little underneath $76M in commitments for subsequent season, per PuckPedia. Included in that’s almost $27M in spending on their high 5 blueliners with Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers, and Carson Soucy all signed by means of not less than 2025-26 as effectively, with the latter now in commerce speculation. That ought to solely intensify with Pettersson now assured to be sticking round for the lengthy haul.
