When the Vancouver Canucks take to the ice this season, one storyline will loom over everything: Elias Pettersson. He’s the team’s most talented forward, their emotional hinge, and the one who, when he’s on, makes the Canucks look like a legitimate contender. But it’s not all smooth sailing. There are a handful of real “pressure points” that both Pettersson and the organization must navigate to make this season a success.
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Here’s a breakdown of the five most significant pressure points.
The most obvious pressure point is his contract. Pettersson showed he wasn’t afraid to play the waiting game before his extension was signed in March 2024. The Canucks finally got his name on a long-term deal, but that process (both ways) left marks. Everyone will have their antennae up, watching for any hint of hesitation about his future.
Even if nothing dramatic is happening behind the scenes, the “what if” chatter won’t go away. It’s a pressure cooker—both for Pettersson, who wants to play hockey, and for the organization that needs to show it can win and keep him happy. But, given last season’s production – from Pettersson and the Canucks – there are still questions. Can he live up to his $11.6 million AAV?
Pettersson has already proven he can be a point-per-game player, and some nights he looks unstoppable. The problem is, when he dips—even just a little—people notice. Last season, fans saw a significant drop.
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Vancouver isn’t the most forgiving market for its star players. The expectation is clear: if Pettersson isn’t driving the offence, something’s wrong. That’s a tough spot for any player, especially in a league where defensive schemes are explicitly built to neutralize top-line talent.
He’s not loud, he’s not a natural media star, and he’s not going to pound his chest in the dressing room. That’s fine—there’s no one way to lead. But when a player carries the weight Pettersson does, people start asking: Is he a true leader? Can he be the heartbeat of a championship team?
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