The Vancouver Canucks have signed young star center Elias Pettersson and defenseman Quinn Hughes, getting both restricted free agents in just under two weeks before the NHL season begins, according to multiple reports and confirmed by ESPN on Friday.
Pettersson, 22, agreed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $7.35 million against the salary cap, and Hughes, 21, signed a six-year deal with an average annual value of $7.85 million, the highest on the team, according to a source.
Pettersson, the fifth overall pick in 2017 and NHL rookie of the year in 2018-19, has 153 points in 165 games with Vancouver. He was limited to 26 games in last season’s 56-game campaign but had 21 points.
Pettersson will remain a restricted free agent when the contract ends in 2023-24.
Hughes will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. He has 97 points in 129 games. He finished second to Colorado’s Cale Makar for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2019-20.
Makar signed a six-year deal worth $9 million annually with the Colorado Avalanche in July. Hughes’ contract carries a smaller cap hit than young defensemen like Makar, Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot ($8 million) and Dallas’s Miro Heiskanen ($8.45 million), although the latter two signed 8-year deals with their teams.