What did Vancouver Canucks management really mean with their Pettersson comments?
The Vancouver Canucks have an Elias Pettersson problem. The 26-year-old performed way below expectations this past season, and getting him back to All-Star level is at the top of the team’s list of priorities.
Canucks management knows he needs to be better, and it appears as though they’re challenging him to buy into the habits that great players share.
Although Jim Rutherford did make a curious comment about Pettersson that didn’t seem to add up.
“He’s a guy that’s always going to be able to get his points, but can you be a contending team with your top player just getting points? I can answer that question, and the answer is no, you can’t,” Rutherford said at Monday’s season-ending press conference.
“So he’s going to have to buy into being a complete player. He’s going to have to buy into working hard.”
Pettersson hasn’t been criticized for his attention to defence. The criticism has been his inability to produce offence, with just 45 points in 64 games this past season.
But what about the overall message? It’s clear from their comments that Rutherford, Allvin, and Rick Tocchet are hoping for a higher commitment level from Pettersson, specifically in terms of practice habits and offseason preparation.
Tocchet and Rutherford acknowledged that Pettersson didn’t show up to training camp in shape. That should change this year as the Canucks and Pettersson agreed he would stay in Vancouver for some time this summer to workout under the team’s eye.
The Canucks have clearly been trying to push this message to Pettersson and it now seems like he’s getting it.
“I think he has listened to certain parts,” said Tocchet on Friday. “I think he’s evolving as a player, as a person… hopefully he’s going to evolve even more.”
Hockey history is filled with stars who achieved individual success at a young age but needed to mature and evolve to help their team win. Rutherford namedropped Steve Yzerman — who put up massive point numbers at a young age but didn’t win a Stanley Cup until focusing on becoming a more complete player — as an example that Pettersson can follow.
While Yzerman isn’t a perfect example as Pettersson is already quite strong defensively, there is a lesson on learning how to win that the Canucks player can follow.
Pettersson has another seven years remaining on his $ 92.8 million mega-deal. It’s worrying to have these concerns, but there are also reasons for optimism.
“I can give you some good news,” added Rutherford. “It’s a small step, but he’s been in here working every day now for the last few days. That’s what we like to see, and we know that he’s working hard, he’s not just stopping in for a cup of coffee.”
“So that’s a good sign, but he’s going to have to do it all summer. He’s going to have to buy into what the coach wants him to do, and part of buying in is being a complete player if you want to have a contending team.”
The Canucks do have one exit route they can take if they don’t see a future with Pettersson working out. The centre’s no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until July 1, meaning they could deal him at the draft. It’s been widely reported the Canucks almost traded Pettersson midseason and it’s an option that Allvin wasn’t ruling out at Monday’s press conference.
“Regarding Petey, we all believe in him, but I would be stupid not to keep my options open,” Allvin said.
The only way Pettersson can get rid of his doubters is to perform on the ice. It seems like he’s been given the pathway by management, now it’s up to him to follow it.