The 2024-2025 Vancouver Canucks saw a significant regression from the 2023-2024 version of the team, as they missed the postseason, traded away of key players, and the departure of head coach Rick Tocchet. But perhaps no one suffered more of a setback this season than centreman Elias Pettersson.
With 45 points in 64 games, it was his lowest career production by far in his fewest games played (excluding the shortened 2020-21 season, where he suited up for only 26 matches). Ex-Canucks coach Rick Tocchet joined Donnie and Dhali on Tuesday to break down Vancouver’s year. And while cynicism about Pettersson in the city is running wild, Tocchet said he sees the 26-year-old coming back strong next season:
“From the bottom of my heart, he is going to have a bounce back year,” Tocchet said. “He’s a great kid. He’s got to get his confidence for himself, but also his teammates. He’s got to get his teammates to have confidence in him again.”
There’s no denying the former 100-point player had an absolutely abysmal year, as his locker room rift with JT Miller stole the show while his on-ice performance suffered.
Amidst their feud, the decision to trade Miller and keep Pettersson on at the deadline is one that continues to be questioned, as Miller elevated his game with the New York Rangers, while Pettersson continued to fall flat after his departure.
Speaking specifically about Pettersson’s game, Tocchet touched on the need for him to change up his pace to match the style of the league that continues to get faster and more aggressive.
“I made a comment a month or two ago about re-programming, and people freaked out in the city,” Tocchet said. “In today’s game, it’s a lot evolved … Petey likes to come back and play kind of that slower game, and I think it affected him. I know that he wished he came in better shape last year, and I think he’ll be more prepared, but you got to play that style. So when I talk about reprogramming, I was talking more of coming back, getting the puck and taking off. Or on the power play, when he gets the puck on the side there, when you beat pressure, that’s the time you attack.”
To illustrate his point, Tocchet referenced the play of top centres across the league like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby as a model for the faster style Pettersson needs to develop.
“You learn from all these top level players where when they beat pressure, they’re attacking,” he continued. “That’s what I meant reprogram, he’s just gotta invent his game a little bit differently. I know he had 100 points a few years ago, and everyone said, well, how do you change an 100-point guy? Well, you got to evolve, I don’t care who you are.”
With a new coach in place in Adam Foote, Pettersson will have to work hard this offseason to once again find a style of play that works for him and get results for the team. Locked down for seven more years, the Canucks will hope Tocchet’s prediction comes true, and Pettersson comes out guns blazing next season, as Vancouver tries to fight their way back into the postseason once again.
