A well-known journalist suggests a very flattering comparison for Elias Pettersson's contract
PUBLICATION
Jeff DrouinSeptember 11, 2021 (11:29)
As the 2021-2022 National Hockey League season begins, a few restricted free agents remain without a deal with their respective teams. Among them is the name of young Swedish center Elias Pettersson. At the time of writing, the 2019 Calder Trophy winner is still trying to reach an agreement with the Canucks' staff.
Now, a prominent journalist covering Canucks activities, Rick Dhaliwal, says the closest comparable for Pettersson's next contract would be Mitch Marner with the Toronto Maple Leafs. That's nothing to help the Canucks' general manager. Remember that Marner's contract is for six years and it pays him close to 11 million per season.
The 22-year-old center has 153 points in 165 NHL games in his first three seasons. However, he was limited to 26 games last year due to injury. He also recorded 18 points in 17 playoff games.
By comparison, Marner had 130 points in his first 159 games in the NHL. However, the Leafs player exploded in his third campaign with 94 points in 82 games, something Pettersson was unable to do.
Do you think the Canucks will offer such a lucrative contract to the young Swedish sensation? What do you think the terms of Pettersson's next deal should be?
