"He Doesn't Look Happy" - Ex-Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau weighs in on Elias Pettersson's issues

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Cooper Godin
October 21, 2024 (11:31)

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Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau has weighed in on Elias Pettersson's struggles so far this season.

If there's anyone that knows Elias Pettersson well, it's Bruce Boudreau, who spent parts of two seasons as his head coach before being replaced by current bench boss, Rick Tocchet.

Recently on TSN, Bruce Boudreau sat down with Geno Reda of That's Hockey to discuss Elias Pettersson's struggles early on in the 2024-25 campaign after registering just two assists and eight shots on goal in five games.

"You know, I'm not in Vancouver now but to me, every time I watch him and I watch him every game, he just doesn't look happy and he doesn't look confident and I think it's because he wants to do so well. You have to understand this kid. He wants to play against the best, I think he wants to be the best and when it's not happening, he gets really down on himself and that's a problem." Boudreau said.

He added, "I know last year, listen he was playing was Mikheyev and Kuzmenko, who neither one were having a good year, so I look at that and go okay, it's not his fault or wasn't mostly his fault. But this year, he's coming out of the gate, I know he trained hard in Sweden this summer. I don't know if that's a problem that he's not happy, but everyone gets treated differently.

It's up to the coach and you either get a pat on the back or a kick in the butt and I'm sure he's doing both because he's playing almost 21 minutes a night now. So Rick's still giving him the ice time, but he's not producing and I just watch his body language out there, it's not good and I think he's one of the guys that you've got to put your arm around and tell him he's the best and go out and give him these opportunities to be the best and maybe that's just not what's happening right now in Vancouver."

Only time will tell how Elias Pettersson responds and if he's able to get back to being that elite player we've all come to know. There's no doubt he's one of the best players in the National Hockey League and everyone has their struggles, but Pettersson needs to find a way to put the puck in the back of the net.

Eight shots on goal in five games is not good enough, especially when he's given the opportunity to play on the top line and first powerplay unit. Hopefully Pettersson can turn things around starting tomorrow on the final game of the team's road trip in Chicago against North Vancouver native Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks.