Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Admits What He Plans to Do with Elias Pettersson
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Photo credit: Canucks Daily
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has come out to publicly admit what he is actively trying to change about the Elias Pettersson's game in order to turn his less than average season around.
With that being said, Vancouver Canucks star forward Elias Pettersson's slump seems to be over as he currently is playing some of the best hockey of the season, proving to doubters that he actually might be worth the $11.6 million dollars he earns each season.
Rick Tocchet reveals plan and what they are doing different with Elias Pettersson
If you have been watching Elias Pettersson that 4-5 games, he has looked like a completely different player on the ice.
He is shooting a whole lot more, being aggressive with and without the puck and most notably, is actually scoring highlight reel goals like he once did.
Four goals in five games for Elias Pettersson, but the "How" on this goal really matters.
But, just like when Rick Tocchet took all the credit for the Canucks beating the powerhouse Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, he may have just done the same with the recent success of Elias Pettersson.
In an interview with Mike Halford and Jason Brough on Sportsnet 650, Tocchet admitted that they are currently working hard on changing the way Elias Petterson prepares and plays.
Which, in the last stretch of games seems to be working.
«I know people joke about it, I say it all the time if you want to score goals or you want to be a dominant player, you've got to move your feet,» said Tocchet.
«You've got to get to those areas, you've got to be deceptive, you've got to play north hockey. Regroup hockey, taking the puck back, won't win in the NHL.»
«I think sometimes Petey likes to regroup, slow the game down. I'm not sure how many years ago doing that might've worked, but now you have to play a more north style, and we're just trying to re-program his brain when it comes to that, and he's buying into that. That's why I think he's getting better at that, but there is another level for us and our team.»
«You've got to get to those areas, you've got to be deceptive, you've got to play north hockey. Regroup hockey, taking the puck back, won't win in the NHL.»
«I think sometimes Petey likes to regroup, slow the game down. I'm not sure how many years ago doing that might've worked, but now you have to play a more north style, and we're just trying to re-program his brain when it comes to that, and he's buying into that. That's why I think he's getting better at that, but there is another level for us and our team.»
In the last two weeks, Pettersson has looked like the player that was awarded a monster contract, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists in 8 games.
In the last two weeks:
J.T. Miller: 0g | 4a | 4pts in 8 games
Elias Pettersson: 4g | 4a | 8pts in 8 games
Presented without comment.
J.T. Miller: 0g | 4a | 4pts in 8 games
Elias Pettersson: 4g | 4a | 8pts in 8 games
Presented without comment.
The Canucks are in the midst of a hard fought battle for the last wild card spot in the West, and Pettersson is giving them every opportunity to snag it.
| POLL | ||
MARS 20 | 393 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Admits What He Plans to Do with Elias Pettersson Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will secure the final Wild Card spot in the Western conference? | ||
| Yes | 251 | 63.9 % |
| No | 142 | 36.1 % |
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