LATEST | TSN reporter identifies the Canucks top two priorities heading into the season

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Cooper Godin
August 1, 2023 (11:37)

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Welcome to August! We're a little over six weeks away from the start of training camps and ten weeks until the start of the 2023-24 season.

The Canucks were busy in July, signing a trio of free agents on Canada Day to help the roster next season, those being Carson Soucy, Ian Cole and Teddy Blueger.

But the Canucks may have more to do this off-season, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji.

During a segment on TSN looking at each of the Canadian teams and where they stand at the mid-way point of the summer, Lalji identified two areas the Canucks need to prioritize. The first being moving money and second is locking up Elias Pettersson to a long-term contract extension.

Lalji said that currently the Canucks are nearly $4.3 million over the salary cap and if Tanner Pearson is able to return, which is expected, they'll be over by $1.8 million. Moving money is something the Canucks have been trying to do for a couple off-season's now and Lalji adds that the team also wants to address their depth at each position, but may need to look internally to fill those holes.

"Right now, the Canucks find themselves $4.3 million over the cap and there are some questions around the health of Tanner Pearson. General Manager Patrik Allvin does believe that Pearson will be ready for the start of training camp. If he does play this season, the Canucks will then be close to $1.8 million over the cap. So moving money will be a priority still, much like it has been for the past couple of seasons and it's hard to imagine where those moves will fit, but the Canucks will have to find a way." Lalji said.

When it comes to Elias Pettersson, Lalji said that while an extension doesn't necessarily need to get done this summer, both sides are talking and the Canucks would like to get something done now. The salary cap is expected to go up next summer, but if Pettersson has another 100+ point season, that will drive up the price even more, so if they're able to lock him up now, they could save a little bit of money.

"The two sides are talking. Certainly, the club would like to get it done now, believing the cap will only go up next season, but also, the market for Pettersson could also go up. The Sebastian Aho extension could prove to be a blueprint. Many believe whatever contract Pettersson signs with Vancouver, that number will start with a 10."

Source: TSN