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Canucks' $92.8M star Elias Pettersson under 'tremendous pressure' after disappointing finish last season, opines Farhan Lalji
Analyst Farhan Lalji talked about the high expectations from Elias Pettersson as he starts an important season with the Vancouver Canucks. Having signed an eight-year, $92.8 million contract, Pettersson struggled last season, especially in the playoffs, scoring only two points in five games against the Nashville Predators.
Lalji pointed out that Pettersson is under a lot of pressure, having scored only seven goals in his final 40 games (including regular season and playoffs), raising questions about the impact of his contract on his performance.
Jim Rutherford, the Canucks' general manager, is hopeful about Pettersson's mindset, saying that he looks relaxed and ready. However, Lalji believes this optimism may be unrealistic, considering Pettersson’s struggles after signing the big deal (0:28).
"Yeah, I think there's going to be a tremendous amount of pressure on Pettersson, and hopefully Jim Rutherford and Rick Tocchet, and the guys that have talked to him in the last few months, are right.
"They've talked about the fact that he's coming back relaxed and that he just feels a lot more comfortable right now. They believe he's in a pretty good mood going into all of this," Lalji said via (TSN).
Pettersson dealt with a knee injury that affected his performance. He played 82 games, scoring 34 goals and 55 assists for 89 points. Yet, his playoff performances drew criticism. He struggled to score and went missing during crucial moments despite the Canucks relying on his skill and creativity on offense.
Pettersson’s mental state is also important. In an interview on May 2, 2024, he said:
“I feel awful, I don’t know why I’m playing” when asked about his health.
Elias Pettersson is in the spotlight as the Canucks prepares for the new season. He needs to show that he can meet expectations and improve his game.
Elias Pettersson aims to be a key player for the Canucks this season
Elias Pettersson is excited for the new season after a tough year. He talked about the pressure from contract talks and how he played but feels hopeful of faring better this year.
“I feel recharged. Obviously, it was a lot of noise (last season), but it was expected. It took a long time to sign, and then I signed and signed a big dollar and was not performing as I wanted. But that’s behind me now, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead," he said.
Elias Pettersson is ready to compete and focus on his physical and mental health. He's excited to show his skills and help the Canucks succeed this season.
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