"It’d be a momentous accomplishment": Analyst believes $92.8M Elias Pettersson will pot 50 goals next season 

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Aug 10, 2024 11:30 GMT

NHL analyst, Stephan Roget predicts that Elias Pettersson will score 50 goals next season for the Vancouver Canucks. In March, Pettersson signed an eight-year, $92.8 million contract. Although his playoff performance was disappointing, he had a strong regular season with 34 goals, 55 assists, and 89 points. This ranked him 16th in single-season points for the Canucks.

Pettersson has set high standards early in his career. In the 2022/23 season, he scored 39 goals, 63 assists, and 102 points. This track record makes a 50-goal season seem possible.

His goal-scoring has been consistent over the years, with a goals-per-game rate around 0.40. His shooting percentage has also stayed steady, suggesting he can continue scoring well.

Last season, Elias Pettersson had a great start, with 27 goals in 49 games and a hot streak in January. However, his shots dropped from 257 to 207, which affected his goals. To reach 50, he will need to shoot more and use his linemates effectively.

"This year, we’re just cutting right through the middle-digits in predicting that Pettersson not only breaks the 40-goal mark in 2024/25, but sails past it all the way to 50 goals. It’d be a momentous accomplishment, and not one we predict all that lightly. A 50-goal season would be the fifth-highest in franchise history, and the most by anyone not named Pavel Bure or Alex Mogilny,

"It’d be the most by a Canuck since Markus Naslund potted 48 in 2002/03. It’s a mark that has only been hit 13 times over the past five NHL seasons. It’s an exclusive club, and, yes, we still think Pettersson is going to join it," Roget writes.

Adding Jake DeBrusk could help Pettersson. DeBrusk might reduce defensive pressure on Pettersson, giving him more scoring chances. Also, playing more with Quinn Hughes, who helped Pettersson last season, could increase his goals.

With his new contract and high expectations, Elias Pettersson is at a key point in his career. His drive and the stronger team around him suggest a great season ahead.

TSN Analyst Frankie Corrado questioned Elias Pettersson's $92.8 million deal

TSN analyst Frankie Corrado criticized Elias Pettersson's eight-year, $92.8 million deal with the Vancouver Canucks. Corrado doubts Pettersson can justify his $11.6 million salary, especially after his points dropped from 102 to 89 last season. He noted that Pettersson's role as the top center is in question, given J.T. Miller’s strong performance.

"Can Elias Pettersson play like a superstar? Can he play like a player who gets paid $11.6 million? It's funny, right now if you look at the Canucks roster, you see Pettersson down the middle, you see Miller down the middle," Corrado said (via TSN on On July 19).

To be competitive in the Pacific Division against players like Connor McDavid, Corrado believes Pettersson needs to improve and aim for 95-100 points.