Canucks centre Pettersson opens up on family and future in Vancouver
It was another tough season for Elias Pettersson, and not just because of what happened on the ice for the Vancouver Canucks centre.
Pettersson’s wife Katelyn has been open about the couple’s struggles to start a family. Earlier this week, Katelyn shared on social media that she had suffered a second miscarriage.
By contrast, Elias is known for being guarded with his personal life.
But after sympathies and support were shared for him before a reporter’s question at Friday’s end-of-season media availability at Rogers Arena, Pettersson did open up a little.
“Thank you for that. It’s been hard,” he said, before pausing after getting choked up.
“It’s hard… It affected both of us, obviously, but mostly for Katelyn, that’s been the hardest.”
Pettersson led the team in scoring this season, but with just 51 points (15-36-51). The 27-year-old Swede had just 0.69 points per game, which is the lowest of his career and slightly below last season (0.70).
If there’s any player that could use a change of scenery, it would seem to be EP40.
But when asked about potentially playing elsewhere, Pettersson contends he’d like to stay in Vancouver.
“I like it here. This feels like home,” he said. “I signed here for a reason. We’re in a tough spot, none of us are happy with the season.”
Pettersson didn’t play up to his expectations this season (Bob Frid/Imagn Images)
Ultimately, Pettersson has control over where he plays. He has six years left on his contract, which carries a full no-movement clause. That doesn’t mean he can’t be traded, but it does make it more difficult for management to move him.
It will be interesting to see what the Canucks choose to do this summer. President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford once again pointed to Pettersson’s lack of preparation as an issue when it was his turn to speak to reporters. Pettersson said he could change his summer training, but it’s starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf at this stage.
“I know I have a lot of good hockey in me, and I haven’t showed it, but I’m confident in myself,” Pettersson said. “I want to be the best player out there.”
While Pettersson has an A on his jersey, he wasn’t name-checked along with other leaders by Adam Foote recently.
“I’m definitely more on the quiet side, on the leadership,” Pettersson admitted. “I’m just trying to lead by example.”
The Pettersson decision will be a fascinating one to follow. It’ll likely be up to the new general manager, or at least that’s what Rutherford led everyone to believe on Friday.
If the Canucks add a player like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg in the draft, it would be beneficial to have a centre like Pettersson feeding them the puck. But then again, if preparation and leadership are once again lacking, you can make the case that trading Pettersson would be best for everyone involved.
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