Vancouver sports analyst Farhan Lalji was on-site for the Canucks' post-practice media session, where he spoke with Elias Pettersson and head coach Rick Tocchet. Pettersson faced questions about his struggles, which have carried over from the latter part of last season and the playoffs.
Farhan pressed Pettersson, saying, "It seems the last three games you've been really active. Do you feel the goals are just around the corner?" Pettersson, nonchalant as always, he responded,
"Yeah, it's easy to click on the stats and say I stink, but I feel like I've been better in the last few games. All I can do is keep on making plays."
Tocchet, when asked about his star player's recent form, noted,
"I think he's chipping away at his game. I think everyone knows he's gotta move his feet. I don't care if he makes a mistake, as long as he's trying to make plays. Hes got to be more aggressive, I think a lot of the times when he is standing around he gets in trouble, but that's the mental side of it we are trying to work on."
The Canucks' fairly solid start to the season has somewhat lessened the pressure, but the spotlight remains squarely on Pettersson, especially as he begins the first year of his $11.6 million per season contract. In a hockey-crazed city like Vancouver, high expectations come with being one of the league's top-paid players. If Pettersson can't elevate his game to an elite level soon, the questions and scrutiny will only grow louder.
The good news? Pettersson's recent play suggests he's finding his rhythm. For Canucks fans, the hope is that the goals will come sooner rather than later.
