Elias Pettersson is not above admitting his mistakes. Pettersson recently acknowledged that he approached the season with the wrong mindset, weighed down by the pressure of his massive new contract. After signing an eight-year, $92.8 million extension with the Vancouver Canucks in March 2024, Pettersson admitted the deal led him to overthink his game, ultimately stifling his natural, instinctive style of play.
Elias Pettersson Ready for Next Chapter
With Rick Tocchet out and Adam Foote stepping in as head coach, it’s clear Pettersson is ready for a bounce-back season. Foote was named the head coach of the Canucks on May 14, after previously serving as an assistant under Tocchet.
In 64 games last season, the Swedish star recorded 45 points (15 G + 30 A) with a –10 rating, his lowest output in a full season to date. Pettersson’s average ice time also dropped by nearly a minute. Additionally, he was scoreless in Sweden’s entire three-game run at this year’s Four Nations Face-Off.
Elias Pettersson looks in shape and ready to have his comeback season 🔥 #Canucks pic.twitter.com/tIubke6jm9
— cat 🫧🇨🇦 (@canucksgrande) June 17, 2025
Pettersson told Janne Bengtsson of NHL.com that his lingering knee injury from last summer also limited his training.
“Maybe early in the season I had the wrong mindset … I thought, ‘now I’ve signed a big contract so I have to do more’, instead of just being myself,” Pettersson said. “I had a knee injury last summer … it was hard to really train 100 percent.”
Rick Tocchet said that the Canucks did not consider shutting down Elias Pettersson this season despite his knee injury.
He also mentioned that Pettersson’s injury was tendinitis.
📽️: TSN | Vancouver Canucks pic.twitter.com/pb9N17Wer9
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) May 23, 2024
Pettersson was selected fifth overall by Vancouver in the 2017 NHL Draft and has since become a cornerstone of the franchise. Over 471 career games, he has amassed 457 points, including 185 goals and 272 assists, along with a +46 rating.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 176 pounds, Pettersson enjoyed his best season to date in 2022–23, when he racked up a career-high 102 points, highlighted by personal bests in both goals (39) and assists (63).
Since getting on board, Foote has reportedly praised Pettersson’s dedication, noting good early-season conversations and especially emphasizing a trusted relationship and strong support system to the 26-year-old center.
Pettersson said he is excited to see where his renewed focus and mindset take him under Foote, who has clearly promised him a strong support system from the Vancouver franchise.
“Adam Foote and I had some pretty good conversations this season… he wants, I really think he knows what he needs to do, and he’ll be committed.”
The photo is of the wrong Elias Petterson. You’ve got “D-Petey”.
You’re wrong!