The Vancouver Canucks are inching closer toward signing their two key restricted free agents.

Vancouver made progress Thursday morning in contract talks with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes' agent, sources told The Athletic's Thomas Drance.

Both players are represented by Pat Brisson of CAA Sports, according to PuckPedia.

The Canucks have $13.7 million in cap space, but they can create $3.5 million in additional flexibility if they place Micheal Ferland on long-term injured reserve, according to CapFriendly.

Pettersson, the 2019 Calder Trophy winner, recorded 21 points in 26 games during an injury-plagued 2020-21 campaign and is expected to center the team's top line.

Hughes, the Calder runner-up in 2020, amassed 41 points in 56 contests last season and is projected to anchor the club's top defense pairing.

The pair have been skating together in Michigan with Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk - another RFA holdout - to stay in game shape.

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