Is Elias Pettersson the Most Important Player in the NHL?

Every team has its franchise cornerstone, but few players carry the weight of an entire organization’s history the way Elias Pettersson does for the Vancouver Canucks.

In this episode of Locked On Canucks, we break down why Pettersson’s performance in 2025–26 could literally alter the future of this franchise:

Why Pettersson’s bounce-back season will dictate whether the Canucks can contend—or collapse.

How his success (or failure) could be the ultimate turning point in Vancouver Canucks history.

The ripple effect: from contract talks to roster construction, to playoff chances.

Meanwhile, across the league, Connor McDavid still hasn’t signed his next contract—how does Edmonton’s uncertainty compare to Vancouver’s situation with Petey?

Pettersson may not just be Vancouver’s most important player—he might be the most important player in the NHL right now.

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