Vancouver Canucks star center Elias Pettersson is hungry for a season to be happy about.
After a 2024-25 season that was a disappointment for everyone connected to the Canucks, Pettersson has come out of the gates swinging and making it clear he’s intent on putting in a far better performance next season. He’s more than capable of reaching that goal for the Canucks.
Pettersson recently told Peter Ekholm on NHL.com he’s put on muscle and is looking for revenge following last season’s underwhelming results, including his 15-goal, 45-point showing in 64 games.
"I know what I'm capable of," Pettersson told Ekholm last Wednesday in Sweden. "Actually, I haven't thought about it, but for myself, it's revenge. I'm not happy with last season."
The 26-year-old was embroiled in a feud with now-former Canucks star center J.T. Miller, and he dealt with two injuries in the past year.
Pettersson’s drop in production is part of why Vancouver missed out on Stanley Cup playoff action. But if Pettersson is ready to reverse last season’s regression, the expectations for him in 2025-26 should thrill Canucks fans.
It’s still fair to hold Pettersson to the standard he set in his peak seasons thus far, most notably, his 39-goal, 102-point performance in the 2022-23 campaign. Even a slight dip to the 34-goal, 89-point effort he got in 2023-24 would greatly help Vancouver’s playoff hopes next year, and it isn’t unreasonable to ask him to get there.
After all, Pettersson is an elite force when he takes advantage of his hard shot.
He consistently ranks near the top of the NHL in the number of shots that go between 70 and 100 miles per hour, and he can not only score a bunch of goals in high-danger areas but at mid-range as well, according to NHL Edge.
His 109 shots last season were far fewer than the 207 and 257 he had in the two previous campaigns, and it’s clear that improving his strength and recovering from his injuries should help him increase his shooting again.
Pettersson’s hunger to have an excellent season could rub off on his teammates as well.
To that end, Pettersson spoke specifically about one of the Canucks’ most notable off-season moves – the trade acquisition of former Edmonton Oilers right winger Evander Kane.
The rugged game Kane plays may not directly affect Pettersson if the two new teammates don’t play on the same line next year, but if Kane can produce a decent amount of goals, the pressure on Pettersson will subside. And that should lead to a better all-around showing from Pettersson.
"I was very happy when I saw that trade," Pettersson said. "It's a player that we need, a player who plays with grit and still can score goals."
But let’s focus on Pettersson specifically. Perhaps skeptics are right, and Pettersson’s play of late is more indicative of who he’s going to be in the long run. That would be crushing for the Canucks, who are set to pay Pettersson $11.6 million for the next seven seasons.
But with his fresh start next year, Pettersson has no excuses about showing who he really is. He’s going to be key to Team Sweden’s chances at the 2026 Olympic Games, and he’s got a new head coach in Adam Foote to form a new partnership with in Vancouver. Many people are pushing their chips behind him, and he knows it.
NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 7, Vancouver CanucksThe Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings enter the homestretch with the Vancouver Canucks in seventh place.
Pettersson is going to be front and center as the Canucks try to get back into the playoffs. He has a terrific opportunity to get the revenge he wants, because if he doesn’t get it, Vancouver may miss out on the post-season for the second consecutive season, and the spotlight on him would be somehow brighter than it already is.
But that’s a way off. For now, there’s still reason to believe Pettersson can answer the bell and have a bounce-back year for Vancouver. The Canucks are betting on him, and the way he responds could change the face and direction of the franchise.
Get the
latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by
subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below
the article on THN.com.
Read the full article here
