The vibes are immaculate in Vancouver. The Canucks (11-3-1) are off to their best start in franchise history. They’re icing a lineup with major trophy threats at all three positions – for the Hart, Norris and Vezina. Getting their franchise center locked up for the long haul might set things over the top.
They’re trying. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said on Tuesday that he is trying to chip away at a contract extension for Elias Pettersson, the league’s leading scorer with 25 points.
Although Pettersson acknowledged before the season started that he was in no rush to sign a new deal and instead wanted to focus on getting off to a good start, the Canucks appear eager.
“I’ve had conversations with [Pettersson’s agent] Pat Brisson and I met with his Swedish agent a couple weeks ago when he was in town,” Allvin told Daily Faceoff after Tuesday’s GM Meetings wrapped. “We’re continuing to talk there and see where things go. Hopefully, we’ll get it done sooner rather than later.”
Pettersson, 25, has taken his game to the next level. After posting 102 points last season, he is now breathing rarified air atop the scoring list with 25 points in 15 games, which is a scorching 137-point pace over a full season. He is tied with teammate Quinn Hughes for the league lead in assists (18); two-thirds of those apples are primary assists.
Interestingly, Pettersson’s increase in production has come while his minutes are down by an average of 1:02 fewer minutes per night. And unlike his team’s overall metrics, there is still probably some room to grow in Pettersson’s game in the goal-scoring department. He is on track for 38 goals, which is one fewer than last season, and his shooting percentage is close to his career average.
All of that adds up to a pretty expensive extension for Pettersson.
“We continue to have conversations, but I prefer to keep things on the low-key for now,” Brisson said Tuesday, via text message.
Aside from that most critical piece of business, Allvin did confirm that he continues to peruse the trade market for an addition on the blueline, preferably a right-shooting defenseman.
“We always try to find ways to improve our group and our team,” Allvin said. “We probably would be looking for a defenseman, yeah.”
Beyond that, Allvin praised the work of Rick Tocchet and his coaching staff. Allvin values structure and process and accountability and he likes what he’s seen so far this season, a big step forward from last year under Bruce Boudreau.
“We’re getting there,” Allvin said. “I like the work the coaches are doing staying on players. We’re always trying to get better every day. I think the coaches are doing a really good job of implementing the structure and system in every practice and it’s paying off.”
Allvin and his front office staff also deserve a heaping of praise for their work last summer retooling the Canucks’ blueline. Hughes’ steady partner Filip Hronek, along with Carson Soucy, Ian Cole and even waiver pick-up Mark Friedman have been huge additions to changing the view of Vancouver.
“It’s definitely a different vibe,” Allvin said. “I think the players want to be at the rink, they want to be around each other. They want to get better. I think that’s something the coaching staff have done a really great job of creating trust in that environment there.”
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