Henrik Sedin Rules Out Rushing Rebuild, Won't Address Pettersson Trade Talk
Canucks co-president says the Vancouver rebuild will be built through the draft and development, not a fixed timeline, and calls trade rumours around Elias Pettersson part of life in the NHL.
Henrik Sedin isn't putting a clock on the Canucks' rebuild, and he isn't biting on trade speculation around Elias Pettersson either.
In an interview with Swedish outlet Expressen, the Canucks co-president of hockey operations addressed both questions directly as Vancouver heads into training camp. Asked how long it might take to get the team back into playoff contention, Sedin said it depends on the draft and how quickly young players develop, adding that a rebuild can't be dragged out indefinitely. He pointed to prospects already in the system, including Tom Willander, Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren, as the foundation the club is building around.
Sedin and his twin brother Daniel were named co-presidents of hockey operations in May, taking on the roles alongside general manager Ryan Johnson. Sedin said he and Daniel had discussed the job with ownership and found their vision for the rebuild aligned before agreeing to step in.
On Pettersson, whose name has circulated in trade rumours throughout the offseason, Sedin declined to shut the speculation down or confirm anything about the center's future. He said trade rumours follow any player who hasn't lived up to his contract on a struggling team, calling it something players simply have to deal with in the league. He added that the organization wants to give Pettersson every chance to succeed and that both Johnson and head coach Manny Malhotra are focused on building an environment where he can just come in and play.
The Canucks open training camp in Penticton on September 17 and begin the regular season on the road against the Edmonton Oilers on September 29.
