Rick Tocchet opens up on Elias Pettersson's importance: It says a lot about his expectations

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Felip Gosselin
September 15, 2024 (7:33 PM)

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Explaining all the ways Rick Tocchet and his coaching staff are working to make the Canucks more productive would require a series of essays.

Much of their focus revolves around risk-reward decisions, creating more scoring opportunities on the weak side, and fostering what Tocchet calls the «connectedness» of his players - a topic deserving its deep dive.

One thing is clear: Elias Pettersson is crucial to any improvement for the Canucks this season. As one of the NHL's top players, Pettersson's influence on the team's success is undeniable. After signing an eight-year, $92.8-million contract extension in March, Pettersson is not only one of the league's elite talents but also one of its highest-paid stars.

«Whether it's my expectation or my relationship with Petey, he's going to be a driving force for the way we do things,» Tocchet predicts. «I need him right there with me. I expect in pressure games and stuff like that, he's going to be there for the team and for his teammates and for himself. I expect that because I've seen it.

«Two weeks ago, when he was in Sweden, we talked for about half an hour. I felt like a very vibrant guy. We talked about hockey, but we talked about a lot of things. He seemed really upbeat. He's got a lot of good things happening (in his life). He just sounded excited. Last year when I talked to him, he was very subdued. We're all different people. Like, Petey is not a guy that's going to scream and yell. But he's a pretty witty guy, he's got a good personality, and a lot of players love him. He's a fun guy, and I felt that on the phone. I think he sounds excited about coming into this year.»

Last season, he tallied 34 goals and 89 points. While not a catastrophe, Pettersson's production dipped late in the season, managing six goals and 17 points over the final 27 games. His struggles continued into the playoffs, scoring just once in 13 postseason games when the stakes were highest.

It's widely believed that the Canucks brought in Jake DeBrusk specifically to play alongside Pettersson. Management hopes they'll recreate a strong duo just like the one they made with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.

Source: Sportsnet / Iain MacIntyre
Tocchet prepared to push Canucks through harder season with expectations higher