Player Discussion Elias Pettersson - A Forward Who Scores

[Hodgy]

Look, you started this argument with me 6 months ago over my statement that I would be surprised if he wasn't injured. You repeatedly argued, over and over again with me, about this statement.

Our initial argument regarding Pettersson started because I took exception to you dismissing criticism of Pettersson's play as being based on hockey card stats. The injury part flowed from that I as I recall it.

But in any event, my position has been pretty clear, and I have repeatedly stated it for you. The record is clearly there and you can search the post history if you'd like. As I've said a million times, my position is that on a balance of probabilities I think that an injury is not the predominate or primary reason for Pettersson's play. I've never been super equivocal on this whole thing because its pretty obvious that no one really knows what is causing Pettersson's poor play, but I find the whole thing fascinating because there is lots of evidence that may or may not be relevant in assessing what is causing Pettersson's poor play. And a lot of my posts have been discussing and weighing this evidence.

But I've never unequivocally stated that there wasn't an injury or that there couldn't be an injury. In fact I am on the record recognizing that he could be have been injured before he confirmed he actually was injured. And even in my initial post to you where I doubted he was injured I started that post with "I don't know" which was intended to communicate my uncertainty.

Either I am to believe that you actually agreed with me the entire time that you were arguing with me that yes, he was injured last year and yes, it effected his play to some unknown degree, and you just wanted to endlessly argue with me about it anyways and couldn't bring yourself to point out that you actually agreed with what I was saying, or you changed your opinion and are denying that you did.

This is an oversimplification of the issue and lacks nuance. Yes, you initially suggested that he may be injured, and yes, I expressed doubt initially that that may be the case. You were obviously correct that he was injured, but again, I've always recognized that he might have been injured, my point or analysis has generally been around the degree to which any injury may be causing Pettersson's poor play.

Given that you literally started this argument over me saying I thought he was injured, continued again and again on that topic despite me repeatedly and extremely clearly outlining my position that an injury last year was only one factor, unranked in order of significance and not the only reason for his play, and that you also said you found it unbelievable that I would think he was injured in the face of your Boudreau quote, I think you've changed your opinion.

You are again misunderstanding my Boudreau comment despite me already communicating to you this misunderstanding. The "unbelievable" part was disregarding Boudreau's evidence, and not that I thought it unbelievable that Pettersson could be injured.

Frankly, if that's not the case it's so much worse. The idea that you actually also thought he was injured the whole time and it was some amount of a factor in his slump, and just decided to start argument after argument with me over my opinion that he was injured is nauseating and so much worse than the alternative, and definitely not going to continue anymore.

The mere fact of whether he was injured has never been the crux of this argument. Again, you are oversimplifying this.

I am not sure why we have been arguing this long about this. I don't think its as simple as you are making it out to me, and I'm certainly not foolish enough to blame it solely on you.

 

[beachcomber]

Most of the first 10 games looked exactly the same to me.

There were a couple games early on the road where he showed a pulse but other than that it was pretty much all terrible. I actually thought the 2 or 3 games immediately before the LA game were some of his absolute worst. I counted 3 times in the Anaheim game alone where he was favoured to win a puck race and just pulled up and quit skating and conceded possession. Then suddenly in the next game he was hustling those out. It was like a switch flicked.

If it is all between his ears at this point then I think they should seriously think about moving him. I would venture to guess they already have had internal discussions about that. He just comes off as a headcase and I don't think he's a player that will move the needle in the playoffs. I'd love to be wrong but there is just something that has been really amiss with him since last January. He has had nothing but excellent coaching which includes the Sedins at his side since day one and he still is in some kind of funk. Are there issues in the dressing room which have become intractable at this point?

 

[RooBicks]

If it is all between his ears at this point then I think they should seriously think about moving him. I would venture to guess they already have had internal discussions about that. He just comes off as a headcase and I don't think he's a player that will move the needle in the playoffs. I'd love to be wrong but there is just something that has been really amiss with him since last January. He has had nothing but excellent coaching which includes the Sedins at his side since day one and he still is in some kind of funk.

Looked great last night, a bright spot among some real ugliness. Weird time to be jumping on this wagon. We'll see.

 

[VanJack]

Good.....It's being reported that Pettersson has shut down all his social media accounts.....no Twitter (X); Instagram etc.

Surprised that more players don't do it. What's the point of even reading much less obsessing about what people are saying about you on-line.

Come to think of it, there's a lesson there for the rest of us. Put down the phone and appreciate the flowers and birds in 'real time', and actually talk to people face-to-face.

 

[Bobby9]

But but but I thought he didn’t have a social media problem.

Reports of him not being injured are next. Oh wait that was already proven too.

 

[rypper]

But but but I thought he didn’t have a social media problem.

Reports of him not being injured are next. Oh wait that was already proven too.

Wow you don't get it.

The early social media stuff with Pettersson was boomers thinking he was spending too much time worrying more about building a brand then playing hockey.

The current stuff about him cutting off social media is all the noise. People are able to access him to easily, people in his life are sharing what's discussed about him. He's being inundated by all the worst shit said on all the worst places of the internet.

 

[Ernie]

The way that certain posters are obsessed with Pettersson gives me very strong "Sedin Sisters" throwback vibes. You have to ask yourself whats going on with these people that any time anyone says anything positive, they immediately follow up with a hateful reply.

We want to see him succeed, right? He's one of the most talented players to ever play for the team, right? We need elite level players like him to have a shot of ever winning a cup, right?

 

[valkynax]

The way that certain posters are obsessed with Pettersson gives me very strong "Sedin Sisters" throwback vibes. You have to ask yourself whats going on with these people that any time anyone says anything positive, they immediately follow up with a hateful reply.

We want to see him succeed, right? He's one of the most talented players to ever play for the team, right? We need elite level players like him to have a shot of ever winning a cup, right?

He's cranked it up a bit for November, a welcoming sight. Hopefully he'll continue to push the pace and the team can follow.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

The way that certain posters are obsessed with Pettersson gives me very strong "Sedin Sisters" throwback vibes. You have to ask yourself whats going on with these people that any time anyone says anything positive, they immediately follow up with a hateful reply.

We want to see him succeed, right? He's one of the most talented players to ever play for the team, right? We need elite level players like him to have a shot of ever winning a cup, right?

Those people are by and large misogynistic assholes.

 

[VanJack]

Social media commentators are largely invisible, and it brings out the worst in people. They say things behind a firewall, they'd never say in public.

Frankly, it's ruining our discourse about hockey, politics, religion or anything you want to name. Flaming vitriol is about all that's left.

So maybe some hockey players are taking leadership on the future of social media. Just shut 'er down. In a week or two, nobody will even miss you.

 

[racerjoe]

Wow you don't get it.

The early social media stuff with Pettersson was boomers thinking he was spending too much time worrying more about building a brand then playing hockey.

The current stuff about him cutting off social media is all the noise. People are able to access him to easily, people in his life are sharing what's discussed about him. He's being inundated by all the worst shit said on all the worst places of the internet.

Not to mention he was actually injured… but that poster has never been concerned with the truth or actual debate and really isn’t worth replying to.

 

[ScottishCanuck]

But but but I thought he didn’t have a social media problem.

Reports of him not being injured are next. Oh wait that was already proven too.

It’s quite sad how desperate you are for him to fail.

Why do you actually bother watching us? You clearly get no joy out of it.

 

[Regal]

Noticeable improvements but I just want to see him rip a puck from the circles again. Once he scores doing that I think we’ll know he’s back, hopefully for the rest of the year into the playoffs

 

[Bobby9]

It’s quite sad how desperate you are for him to fail.

Why do you actually bother watching us? You clearly get no joy out of it.

I want him to be successful. But I also don’t make up scenarios so I can excuse his play unlike a group of posters here.

He’s a soft over paid head case who fans make excuses for. I prefer he just earn his contract and it’s frustrating because we’ve committed to him for just under a decade.

How long do you want to make excuses for him? The entire 7 years?

 

[ScottishCanuck]

I want him to be successful. But I also don’t make up scenarios so I can excuse his play unlike a group of posters here.

He’s a soft over paid head case who fans make excuses for. I prefer he just earn his contract and it’s frustrating because we’ve committed to him for just under a decade.

How long do you want to make excuses for him? The entire 7 years?

But he has greatly improved his game of late and rather than acknowledging it you’re still in here dragging up past poor play in an effort to slate the guy, dismissing anything that could possibly be used as an excuse.

That doesn’t suggest a genuine want for him to have success. It just looks like you wanting to be right so you can say “I told you so”.

 

[JT Milker]

Coming into a thread to find someone arguing with themselves >>>

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Yeah but we should have traded EP’s ass and keep Zad and Lindholm

 

[ephmrl]

He's still not 100% his usual self, but when he's competing and playing like he has been the last handful of games I have no complaints. I love watching him play when he's able to use his patience and smarts to take over a game, and my frustration with him has not been hate for the player, but knowing that he's capable of playing like this and just wasn't for about 50 games between last season and this one.

Hoping the funk is over for him and he's able to continue to build on his game and find a way to have less of these slumps in the future, as they have the potential to crater a season for the team.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

He's cranked it up a bit for November, a welcoming sight. Hopefully he'll continue to push the pace and the team can follow.

He needs a sniper on his wing

We haven’t given him that since Rookie Kuzy who had a stupidly high shooting %

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Wow you don't get it.

The early social media stuff with Pettersson was boomers thinking he was spending too much time worrying more about building a brand then playing hockey.

The current stuff about him cutting off social media is all the noise. People are able to access him to easily, people in his life are sharing what's discussed about him. He's being inundated by all the worst shit said on all the worst places of the internet.

There were many many lunatics who were sending death threat to him because he was underperforming…

Seriously, touch grass. You prob don’t even go to the game so it’s not even your money

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Yeah but we should have traded EP’s ass and keep Zad and Lindholm

Bruins fans aren't very happy with either atm. Especially Lindholm.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Bruins fans aren't very happy with either atm. Especially Lindholm.

Him and Zad were great in the post season but as expected…underwhelming in regular season.

Problem is they aren’t rental anymore

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Him and Zad were great in the post season but as expected…underwhelming in regular season.

Problem is they aren’t rental anymore

Yup. I liked both but I'm happy we didn't give them those deals.

 

[GranvilleIsland]

It’s quite sad how desperate you are for him to fail.

Why do you actually bother watching us? You clearly get no joy out of it.

The bolded is all of us isn't it? I do find small moments of joy though. I've also only been watching since I was about 8 years old so later 1990s. People who have been watching from 1970 have it much worse.

Back on topic. I think Pettersson will be fine even if the points aren't there. We don't need guys putting up 100+ points we need a winner. Boston beat us in 2011 with nobody at a PPG during the regular season. So if Pettersson can hover around 70-80 points and put up Selke level defense then he'll be worth his contract especially as the cap rises. So there shouldn't be any doom and gloom in this thread even if he's been a bit disappointing the last little while. He'll eventually go down as one of the greatest Canucks of all-time alongside Hughes and Miller.

 

[Bobby9]

He's still not 100% his usual self, but when he's competing and playing like he has been the last handful of games I have no complaints. I love watching him play when he's able to use his patience and smarts to take over a game, and my frustration with him has not been hate for the player, but knowing that he's capable of playing like this and just wasn't for about 50 games between last season and this one.

Hoping the funk is over for him and he's able to continue to build on his game and find a way to have less of these slumps in the future, as they have the potential to crater a season for the team.

Question: What is his usual self over the course of his career?

EP40 is not a consistent threat like Mack or McDrai. He is a good player who occasionally goes on heaters. Telling yourself anything else is just you refusing to accept the reality of the player

Hence the frustration with him being paid like them.