Elias Pettersson is well on his way to becoming a Canucks legend.
The 25-year-old center is establishing himself as one of the best two-way forwards in hockey. He made his debut in the 2018-19 season, and since then, he has 398 points in 387 career games.
The Canucks' front office decided to lock down his future with the franchise. And after months of negotiations, the two sides finally ironed out a deal.
Pettersson inked an eight-year contract extension, making him not just one of the league's bet players but also one of its highest-paid stars.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the club has agreed to terms with forward Elias Pettersson on an eight-year contract. pic.twitter.com/pFtXs2Gm3N
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 2, 2024
Pettersson has 75 points in 62 games this season. He's fresh off the first 100-point campaign of his career. And at just 25 years old, the Swedish sensation looks poised to place his name in the rafters among all-time Vancouver greats.
Here's what you need to know:
Elias Pettersson contract details
The 2023-24 season represents the final year of Pettersson's current deal. He agreed to a three-year, $22.05 million extension with former GM Jim Benning and the Canucks back in 2021.
With his contract slated to expire, Vancouver made sure to secure his services for the long-term. Pettersson inked an eight-year, $92.8 million extension, per multiple reports.
The deal will see Pettersson net $11.6 million in annual average value (AAV), right in line with some of the highest-paid players in hockey.
Here's a breakdown of Pettersson's contract — which is set to kick in next season — in the coming few years. He won't return to the open market until 2031 ahead of his age 34 season.
| Year | AAV |
| 2024-25 | $11.6 million |
| 2025-26 | $11.6 million |
| 2026-27 | $11.6 million |
| 2027-28 | $11.6 million |
| 2028-29 | $11.6 million |
| 2029-30 | $11.6 million |
| 2030-31 | $11.6 million |
| 2031-32 | $11.6 million |
Highest-paid NHL players 2023-24
| Rank | Player | Team | AAV |
| 1 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | $12.6 million |
| 2 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | $12.5 million |
| 3 | Artemi Panarin | New York Rangers | $11.642 million |
| 4 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | $11.64 million |
| 5 | Elias Pettersson | Vancouver Canucks | $11.6 million |
| 6 | Erik Karlsson | Pittsburgh Penguins | $11.5 million |
| 7 | David Pastrnak | Boston Bruins | $11.25 million |
| 8 | John Tavares | Toronto Maple Leafs | $11 million |
| Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $11 million | |
| 9 | Mitch Marner | Toronto Maple Leafs | $10.903 million |
| 10 | Jonathan Huberdeau | Calgary Flames | $10.5 million |