Sounds like Pettersson impressed Canucks management with a special trip to Vancouver
The spotlight will be bright on Elias Pettersson when he arrives to training camp next season — assuming the Vancouver Canucks don’t trade him before then.
This is the most important offseason of the 26-year-old’s career, as he looks to shed a reputation that he’s not willing to put in the necessary offseason work.
The message appears to have gotten through, as the Canucks are reportedly pleased with how things are going.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman explained on the 32 Thoughts Podcast how an overseas flight went a long way for Canucks management.
“He came back from Sweden to meet with Adam Foote, when Adam Foote got hired (on May 14)… They took that as investment into the team. They really like that he did that.”
The Friedman report is in line with what Pierre LeBrun wrote in a recent article in The Athletic.
“The Canucks are encouraged by Petterssonās approach this offseason,” LeBrun wrote, adding that all signs point towards the team keeping him in Vancouver.
Canucks management didn’t sound so pleased with Pettersson as recently as two months ago. That’s when GM Patrik Allvin suggested Pettersson spend the summer in Vancouver.
That would be an unusual ask, as the vast majority of players spend their summers at their offseason homes. For Pettersson, that is in Sweden.
The reality is the Canucks won’t care if Pettersson spends his summer on the moon, as long as he’s ready to earn all of his $11.6-million salary next season.
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of shape he shows up in for training camp.