Former Vancouver Canucks' Comments Confirm What Many Suspected About Elias Pettersson's Upcoming Season
A former Vancouver Canucks defenseman believes that Elias Pettersson is facing the most pressure of any player in the National Hockey League heading into the 2025-26 season.
The 2024-25 season is one that the Vancouver Canucks and their fans have already put in the past as it was a difficult year for the team overall and several of their top players.
One of those players that struggled mightily was Elias Pettersson, who ended up finishing the year with just 45 points - his lowest total in a non-covid season in his National Hockey League career, but now his focus is returning to being a top producer for the Vancouver Canucks.
Former Vancouver Canuck believes Elias Pettersson facing most pressure of any NHLer
Elias Pettersson opened up about his struggles in an interview with the NHL's Swedish website, saying an injury to his knee last summer certainly played a role in his poor start, but now that he's back to full health, he's ready to get back to being the player he know he can be.
"Maybe it was that early in the season I had the wrong attitude that yes, 'now I've signed a big contract and now I have to do more, instead of just being myself'.
And when the points didn't come, I tended to start thinking and overthinking everything instead of just doing what I usually do." Pettersson said.
He added, "My game (last season) was obviously not at the level it was in the two seasons before that... I had a knee injury last summer and that hindered a lot of my training then; it was hard to really train 100 percent. Now I'm just trying to look forward."
And when the points didn't come, I tended to start thinking and overthinking everything instead of just doing what I usually do." Pettersson said.
He added, "My game (last season) was obviously not at the level it was in the two seasons before that... I had a knee injury last summer and that hindered a lot of my training then; it was hard to really train 100 percent. Now I'm just trying to look forward."
With an $11.6 million annual salary, Elias Pettersson knows there's a ton of pressure and expectations placed on him heading into each season, with the hope that he can be a 90-100 point player for his club.
In a recent interview with Sportsnet 650, former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Shane O'Brien made a pretty bold statement regarding Elias Pettersson, saying that he is facing the most pressure of any player in the National Hockey League next season.
"Yeah, I mean I think this guy has the most pressure on him of anybody in the NHL, I really do believe that and I don't know him as a kid, as I said before, every Swedish player I've played with were great guys. The twins, Ohlund, Eddy, all those guys, every Swedish guy I've ever played with. I'm sure he's a great kid, however now he's in a situation where he's the guy, he's making big money and the Canucks unfortunately can only go as far as he will take them offensively and I don't know if he has to be a point-per-game, but he just has to make an impact night in, night out and be the best forward on the Vancouver Canucks because that's what they're paying him." O'Brien said.
He added, "When you make big money like that, that's what comes with the territory. But listen, I'm sure he's back in Sweden training hard, but I think he knows that coming into this training camp, obviously in a hotbed like Vancouver, but not just Vancouver, everywhere in the NHL, I think this kid has the most pressure on him of anybody in the NHL this year."
He added, "When you make big money like that, that's what comes with the territory. But listen, I'm sure he's back in Sweden training hard, but I think he knows that coming into this training camp, obviously in a hotbed like Vancouver, but not just Vancouver, everywhere in the NHL, I think this kid has the most pressure on him of anybody in the NHL this year."
The Vancouver Canucks wouldn't have handed Elias Pettersson an eight-year contract worth $11.6 million annually if they didn't believe in him and with a fresh slate this season, the Sundsvall, Sweden native has a big opportunity ahead of him as he looks to prove everyone wrong and get back to being an elite player.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
AOUT 3|1954 ANSWERS Former Vancouver Canucks' Comments Confirm What Many Suspected About Elias Pettersson's Upcoming Season Do you think Elias Pettersson is facing the most pressure of any NHL player next season? | ||
| Yes | 1510 | 77.3 % |
| No | 444 | 22.7 % |
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