Canucks’ Elias Pettersson could play Brock Boeser contract extension card, bet on himself
Boeser #Boeser
Breadcrumb Trail Links
‘This is where I want to play. I’m not stressed to sign a contract and it will be signed when both (parties) are happy’ — Elias Pettersson in his season-ending address
Author of the article:
Ben Kuzma 
Brock Boeser could offer linemate Elias Pettersson some sage advice about betting on yourself. Photo by Bruce Bennett /Getty Images Files Article content
Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson have always combined potential with a refreshing perspective.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Vancouver Canucks’ linemates quickly formed a mutual respect because they keep their feet on the ground and head out of the clouds. And whether battling expectations or injuries, they have maintained an uncanny ability to see the bigger picture and not dwell on the present.
With restricted free agents Pettersson and Quinn Hughes in contract extensions amid a flat National Hockey League salary-cap ceiling — coupled with the Canucks in a self-inflicted cash crunch with US $15.8 million in available cap space — history dictates there’s a lesson to be learned by betting on yourself.
That’s what Boeser did with his contract extension and what Pettersson should do, regardless of how his expected three-year bridge deal plays out in salary and term.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders took one for the team in the first year of his three-year, $21-million extension Jan. 9 (all figures in U.S. dollars). The Coquitlam native pocketed $4 million in total salary this season, gets $7 million in Year 2 and $10 million in Year 3. And he’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights when the deal expires.
That should resonate with Pettersson, unless his camp believes the Swedish centre will exceed Barzal in projected production — even though both were Calder Trophy winners as top NHL rookie in successive seasons.
The slick Swedish centre missed the final 30 games of this NHL season with a wrist injury and vows to return to form next fall. His 153 regular-season points (65-88) in 165 career regular-season games over three years is comparable to what Barzal put up in his first three, before amassing 45 points (17-28) in 55 games of this shortened season. He has 252 points (76-176) in 289 games.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
One telling statistic is points per game.
Pettersson has gone 0.93, 0.97, 0.81 in his seasons, while Barzal went 1.04, 0.76, 0.88, 0.82. Barzal had better numbers in two of the first three years, so the Canucks could cite that to keep the extension reasonable. Or not.
Boeser might be a better comparable at what’s at play for Pettersson. Boeser was finally free of wrist, groin and back issues this season, led the club in scoring with 49 points (23-26) in 56 games and became a more complete player.
Linemates Elias Pettersson (left) and Brock Boeser have been fast friends both on and off the ice for the Vancouver Canucks the last couple of seasons. Photo by RICHARD LAM /PNG files
“This year was a fresh start and I just felt that I needed to get back to my game,” he said. “Not overthinking things and just playing off instinct.”
That last line could be Pettersson’s first quote at training camp.
Boeser’s pre-COVID extension — a three-year, $17.625-million agreement that expires after next season — was less in salary and term than Nico Hischier. The New Jersey Devils’ centre landed a seven-year, $50.75-million commitment in October 2019, but has yet to match Boeser in goal-scoring consistency.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Boeser signed his extension a month before Hischier, but by missing the start of training camp in Victoria the right-winger was already behind in preparation and under the microscope.
Add an off-season in which the winger still couldn’t train properly — he sustained back and wrist injuries in his rookie season — playing catch-up would catch up to a bulkier Boeser. It led to groin issues and a sub-par 16 goals in 57 games in 2019-20.
If he could have a do-over, Boeser would have liked to reach terms quicker.
However, he never negotiated in the media or showed strains as that summer dragged on. His camp pushed for a four-year deal at $7 million annually and the middle ground was an extension that carries a $5.875-million annual cap hit and yearly salaries of $4, $6.125 and $7.5 million. The Canucks kept their cap hit down and Boeser got his biggest incentive in Year 3 to parlay it into even bigger money.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
His post-extension reaction was typical and telling.
“I’m really lucky to be playing this sport and we’re really lucky with how much money we make in our professional lifetimes,” he said. “I don’t think it’s too much pressure (to perform). Obviously, you want to produce and get a better contract after.
“But I’ve got three years to make a difference and I’m not really worried about the second or third year. I’m worried about this year and making the playoffs.”
Will Pettersson say the same?
This season was a test of patience to get over a slow start — one goal and one assist in his first eight games — and then the March 1 injury in Winnipeg. On the second shift, he had the puck on the blue line, mishandled it and his stick hit Nate Thompson’s shin pad and the wrist whipped and was hyper-extended.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Then came a test of mettle to try and rehab the ailment, as opposed to surgery, and then having his season comes to a close with 21 points (10-11) in 26 games.
“It’s been very tough,” Pettersson admitted at end of the Canucks’ season. “I didn’t think the injury would take this long and with a little more rest and work in the summer, I’ll be good to go next season.”
And with a new deal.
“This is where I want to play,” he summed up. “I’m not stressed to sign a contract and it will be signed when both parts (parties) are happy. I’m excited to get that signed and look forward to the future.”
bkuzma@postmedia.com
twitter.com/benkuzma
Canucks: Ryan Johnson ‘waiting’ on Abbotsford name, welcomes fame of Sedins in developing AHL talent 
Canucks and City of Abbotsford make AHL deal official 
New Canucks special advisers Sedins embrace ‘old rookies’ role CLICK HERE to report a typo.
Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.
Share this article in your social network Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up!
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.