3 Canucks trade candidates for the 2026 NHL offseason

The Vancouver Canucks have had a terrible 2025-26 season. After entering the season with the hope of bouncing back from their rough 2024-25 campaign, they are instead at the bottom of the NHL standings. 

Due to how this season has gone for the Canucks, they traded several players during the campaign. Quinn Hughes, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Myers, Conor Garland, Lukas Reichel, and David Kampf were among them. 

Yet, with the Canucks rebuilding, it would not be the least bit surprising if they continued to trade more of their veteran players this summer. Because of this, let’s look at three Canucks trade candidates for the 2026 NHL offseason. 

Elias Pettersson, C 

Elias Pettersson has been in the rumor mill for multiple seasons now, and there is no question that he could use a change of scenery. The 27-year-old center has had another tough year for Vancouver in 2025-26, and a fresh start could be what’s needed to help him regain his elite form. 

Teams looking for a top-six center could pursue Pettersson during the summer, but his $11.6 million cap hit until the end of the 2031-32 season makes things challenging. If the Canucks are open to retaining some of his salary, that could certainly help a Pettersson trade come to fruition. 

MORE: Canucks have a 'smart' path to take with Elias Pettersson trade rumors

Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW

Jake DeBrusk was generating plenty of chatter as a trade candidate leading up to the deadline, but ended up staying put. While this is the case, it would be understandable if the Canucks looked to move him during the summer. The 2015 first-round pick has been transparent about not being eager to play for a rebuilding team and would be a decent trade chip for Vancouver to dangle. 

DeBrusk has a reasonable $5.5 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season, so he certainly could generate interest from teams looking for more offense in their middle six. In 69 games this season for the Canucks, he has 15 goals and 33 points. He also notably scored a career-high 28 goals just last season for Vancouver. 

MORE: NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Buzz On Canucks' Elias Pettersson And Flyers

Brock Boeser, RW

Brock Boeser is another notable Canucks forward who was the subject of trade speculation leading up to the deadline. NHL insider Darren Dreger reported in late February that Boeser would be open to a change of scenery if a team is a fit for him and his family. With this in mind, the possibility of Boeser being moved during the summer should not be ruled out.

Boeser would be much more than a rental for any interested teams, as he has a $7.25 million cap hit until the end of the 2031-32 season. Yet, given his strong resume, there could be some clubs interested in adding him to their top six. In 63 games this season, he has recorded 17 goals and 37 points. 

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