The Vancouver Canucks agreed to terms with its two young stars, forward Elias Pettersson and defenseman Quinn Hughes, The Athletic and Sportsnet reported Friday.
Pettersson reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $7.35 million, and Hughes receives a six-year contract with an average annual value of $7.85 million. The deals have yet to be finalized.
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NHL Roundup: Canucks sign RFAs Pettersson and Hughes
Both players were restricted free agents, and did not report to Vancouver’s training camp while the long-term contracts were being negotiated.
The 22-year-old Pettersson was the No. 5 overall draft pick by the Canucks in 2017 and won the 2018-19 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. In 165 career games he’s recorded 153 points (65 goals, 88 assists).
One year after selecting Pettersson, the Canucks landed in the top 10 of the draft again and selected Hughes No. 7 overall. One of three brothers who were all high draft picks, the eldest Hughes (age 21) has appeared in 129 games and scored 97 points (11 goals, 86 assists). He finished as the Calder Trophy runner-up his rookie season.
Slow progress on Barkov extension
Aleksander Barkov is a pending UFA for the summer of 2022. He would easily be a $10 million dollar player if he hits the market. The Panthers want to head that possibility off as soon as possible.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the two sides are sill working on an extension. “Per sources, talks are progressing slowly, but there is optimism a deal can be reached by the start of the reg-season (which is not currently considered a deadline),” he tweeted.
Barkov, 25, became the fifth player in league annals to win both the Selke and Lady Byng awards in his career. The eight-year veteran posted a team-high 26 goals along with 32 assists for 58 points, second on the Panthers, in 50 games this season.
Lehner calls out NHLPA
Lehner was on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast this past week and voiced his feelings on the Jack Eichel surgery situation. “I hate it.” he said. “I know [teams] put investments into us, but your body is your body. If Eichel wants to have his surgery, how hard is it for them to have him sign a waiver and if it goes wrong they don’t pay him?”
He didn’t stop there. On social media yesterday, Lehner went on the offensive responding criticism towards Eichel but also the silence from the NHLPA and players for not being more outspoken on the matter.
“Where is the NHLPA and all NHL players in all this attacks on our freedom of choice? Jack situation is crazy to me,” he tweeted. “Also people getting attacked by journalist that hide behind freedom of speech to trash peoples freedom of choice. When does the hypocrisy end?”
“NHLPA it’s disappointing… all I got to say. Same with nhl players not sticking up for each other. Remember next time is you,” Lehner finished with one last tweet that read, “Silence
Eichel and the Sabres continue to be deadlocked on a medical path forward. Buffalo has also released his records to interested teams, so maybe another team steps up to deal with this situation.
No NHL Players opted out of the season
Yesterday was the deadline for players to opt-out, and per reports no players decided to do so.
-Field Level Media contributed to this report
