Player Discussion Elias Pettersson - A Forward Who Scores

[iRageWin]

I sometimes wonder where angry Petey went. When opposing teams took liberties on him to try to shut him down, he used to visibly get angry on the bench, then go out like a man possessed to nonchalantly clap a top corner rocket in response. Now he loses the puck and just looks depressed, then heads back to the bench for some water or something

 

[Peter Griffin]

He’s lost out there. Starting to look more like a trade might be the only option here.

 

[thecupismine]

He’s lost out there. Starting to look more like a trade might be the only option here.

I think they're going to give it 15-20 games before seriously exploring the option. Getting his teammates to try and push him through this was clearly step one.

Also, to anyone who thinks that's unnecessary, I question how many competitive teams you've competed on/coached before - it's an extremely common tactic, one that I've both deployed as a coach and received from coaches when competing. It's common because it often works, as people need to hear a message in multiple forms for it to stick sometimes, particularly when it's a tough situation.

The only reason it's even a story is because Miller's the kind of guy to go at it in a very blunt, aggressive way (which was likely needed as well). Hopefully someone else on the team is trying to help him have fun with the game again, along with being more engaged.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

He just looked so much more dynamic back then.

 

[kanucks25]

I sometimes wonder where angry Petey went. When opposing teams took liberties on him to try to shut him down, he used to visibly get angry on the bench, then go out like a man possessed to nonchalantly clap a top corner rocket in response. Now he loses the puck and just looks depressed, then heads back to the bench for some water or something

Tough not to try to play amateur psychologist with this guy. Seems like he lacks any and all emotion for the game, especially joy.

My mind always goes back to the Nashville series when they scored a goal, Petey ended up being in the middle of their celebration huddle, and one of the Preds shoved Petey to the ice like a kid getting bullied at school. And no reaction from Petey, just got up and sulked to the bench.

I've been hard on the guy for his poor on-ice performance but honestly holding back a bit because I'm afraid he might be going through real and serious mental health struggles.; it's very curious that his falloff started before he signed his contract when everything was going pretty well for the Canucks.

(and no, I'm not buying that he felt pressured to sign when he never wanted to be here and is sulking because of it)

 

[Bobby9]

Tough not to try to play amateur psychologist with this guy. Seems like he lacks any and all emotion for the game, especially joy.

My mind always goes back to the Nashville series when they scored a goal, Petey ended up being in the middle of their celebration huddle, and one of the Preds shoved Petey to the ice like a kid getting bullied at school. And no reaction from Petey, just got up and sulked to the bench.

I've been hard on the guy for his poor on-ice performance but honestly holding back a bit because I'm afraid he might be going through real and serious mental health struggles.; it's very curious that his falloff started before he signed his contract when everything was going pretty well for the Canucks.

(and no, I'm not buying that he felt pressured to sign when he never wanted to be here and is sulking because of it)

Still my theory.

He is flat out uhappy. Its in his body language. Its his celebrations when his team mates score. Its in his on ice play.

Doesn't matter if you're on the best team in the world if you're unhappy people will see. It all started around his contract. He wanted to wait and his feet were put to the fire and he signed.

 

[cc]

Pettersson has looked like a player that has lost some of his athleticism. It seems like his off ice training didn't go as well as expected. When he said his summer training went fine and he was able to work around his injury, I don't think it was actually fine

 

[theguardianII]

Still my theory.

He is flat out uhappy. Its in his body language. Its his celebrations when his team mates score. Its in his on ice play.

Doesn't matter if you're on the best team in the world if you're unhappy people will see. It all started around his contract. He wanted to wait and his feet were put to the fire and he signed.

It might your theory but his body language and facial expressions scream you are correct.
There is a whole area of science to do with body language and it is taught in Human Resources as one area. The Israeli's perfected it.

He looks so disconnected and distanced that he may never recover here. He is looking like he isn't caring anymore, detached.

That could be why Tocchet had the "team" try to wake him up, to show some emotion. But Dr. Tocchet doesn't know anything about mental health. "if he is depressed just beat it out of him" or "what a sissy".

Whatever Tocchet is trying or doing ain't working. Players are not robots and this is way beyond Tocchet and apparently management's expertise.

 

[supercanuck]

I remember reading somewhere how Boudreau's upbeat attitude helped EP break out of his previous slump. I think that's what he needs more than anything.

Our entire first line (~100 G) from 2022-2023 have all fallen in rather disastrous fashion. Obviously there's lots going on there. But that is a failure of the entire org.

 

[DFAC]

It might your theory but his body language and facial expressions scream you are correct.
There is a whole area of science to do with body language and it is taught in Human Resources as one area. The Israeli's perfected it.

He looks so disconnected and distanced that he may never recover here. He is looking like he isn't caring anymore, detached.

That could be why Tocchet had the "team" try to wake him up, to show some emotion. But Dr. Tocchet doesn't know anything about mental health. "if he is depressed just beat it out of him" or "what a sissy".

Whatever Tocchet is trying or doing ain't working. Players are not robots and this is way beyond Tocchet and apparently management's expertise.

I agree - when was the last time we saw this sort of emotion from Petey?

It looks like he's unhappy and is having zero fun playing the game (for a while now).

 

[Breakers]

If he reaches 50 points I'd be shocked with his current play

Hell his current point totals are generous for how he has played

 

[Coffee]

Send him to San Jose for Will Smith then

 

[Nucker101]

I hope he has a personal sports psychologist like MacKinnon does, if not then the team should encourage him to try it. It's not like he's suffered through some brutal injury or is getting old, it's all between the ears.

It would be a damn shame if they traded him before trying to get him some help mentally.

 

[Raistlin]

all this talk about him being unhappy. he is just stoic.... many swedes are like that. look at that Fernstrom interview in the summer.

He is skating slower and is likely down on his own play, he needs a psychologist, or just time to get out of his own head. Boeser went through this and emerged this much more complete player. A kid that dominated the best league in the world dont just forget how to play after a random January. He is STILL a defensive presence in his slump. Looks like these slumps will be a thing with him, but I have full confidence the PPP Petey will be back this year.

 

[cc]

EP isn't happy because he is not producing and playing to his expectations. If he was producing more, I'm sure he would be all smiles.

Like many players, he's his own harshest critic. He probably does need a little bit of a cheerleader a la boudreau in his corner, but that's the reason tocchet backs away from directing harsh criticism towards him.

I'm hoping that this season will be the reverse of last season and he'll come out strong at the end and in the playoffs

 

[LuckyDay]

He's having 0 fun because he's playing injured. There's no power in his shot right now. He loves Vancouver but fans snarking on him is not going to help.

He is still contributing but if he is injured and he's playing this way now, how's his game going to be at the end of the season for the playoffs? Tochett need to do what needs to be done to have him recover so we don't get the same situation we did last year.

 

[Bobby9]

 

[Leif Rohlin]

I agree - when was the last time we saw this sort of emotion from Petey?

It looks like he's unhappy and is having zero fun playing the game (for a while now).

This looks like a completely different player.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

This looks like a completely different player.

Wrister and slap shot are gone.
Ability to deke and pivot out of tight quarters is gone.
His playmaking ability is half of what it used to be.
The biggest concern is his lack of chemistry with teammates. He was able to really sync up with guys like Boeser and Miller but now fails to read of those two in any situation.

 

[Nucker101]

Wrister and slap shot are gone.
Ability to deke and pivot out of tight quarters is gone.
His playmaking ability is half of what it used to be.
The biggest concern is his lack of chemistry with teammates. He was able to really sync up with guys like Boeser and Miller but now fails to read of those two in any situation.

He still shows flashes of all these though, there's nothing wrong with him physically, he was always a deer on skates.

 

[calnuck]

He's having 0 fun because he's playing injured. There's no power in his shot right now. He loves Vancouver but fans snarking on him is not going to help.

He is still contributing but if he is injured and he's playing this way now, how's his game going to be at the end of the season for the playoffs? Tochett need to do what needs to be done to have him recover so we don't get the same situation we did last year.

Nothing and no one has given any indication he’s still injured. Not even rumors. I can guarantee you if it comes out he has been playing injured those of us calling him out for his poor play will course adjust and rip into the coaching staff loudly

 

[kanucks25]

This looks like a completely different player.

Well this video validates those who think it's Pettersson's poor wingers that are reason for his lousiness.

You gotta give him quality linemates like Eriksson and Goldobin if you want the real Petey back.

 

[MS]

Nothing and no one has given any indication he’s still injured. Not even rumors. I can guarantee you if it comes out he has been playing injured those of us calling him out for his poor play will course adjust and rip into the coaching staff loudly

Tocchet has openly scoffed at the notion he's injured. He's not hurt in any significant way.

 

[thecupismine]

His wrist shot is completely fine as shown by his first goal, he just barely uses it. He’s also stickhandled out of situations on occasion this year, again just barely uses those skills right now.

The only potential indication of injury is the lack of top end speed and number of speed bursts, both of which are down dramatically year over year. Even then, that could be explained by him standing still and not moving his feet, taking way too long to analyze the situation instead of just reacting & playing instinctively.

It’s just really bizarre for this to happen to a player of this caliber at this age, and there’s barely any precedent for it…other than himself a few years ago before Green got fired, where he was tracking for a 50 point season at the halfway mark of the year.

 

[pitseleh]

The only potential indication of injury is the lack of top end speed and number of speed bursts, both of which are down dramatically year over year. Even then, that could be explained by him standing still and not moving his feet, taking way too long to analyze the situation instead of just reacting & playing instinctively.

The only reason I doubt that is the explanation is that his bursts between 18-20mph are down a little bit but not wildly, while anything above 20mph has fallen off almost completely. He’s still skating fast, just not really fast like he used to. That to me screams injury limiting his mobility. But that also doesn’t seem sufficient for the level of decline we have seen across his game.