What's Wrong with Elias Pettersson? New Report Issues Scary Insight into Pettersson's Rough Season

That season, he exceeded 32 km/h a staggering 153 times. By last season, his top speed dropped slightly to 36.2 km/h, but more concerning was his decrease in bursts over 32 km/h, which fell to 108.

This season, the decline has continued. He has yet to reach 35 km/h, with his fastest recorded burst sitting at 34.7 km/h-below the league average of 35.6 km/h.

He has exceeded 32 km/h just 54 times, putting him on pace for another significant drop from previous seasons.

A source told Postmedia that Pettersson is not currently dealing with an injury, but his lack of acceleration remains a mystery.

Last season, he battled knee tendinitis, which may have contributed to his decreased explosiveness. However, with no reported physical issues this year, his reduced skating speed is more difficult to explain.

The dip in velocity has coincided with a decline in offensive production. His shot totals have dropped for a third consecutive season, averaging just two shots on goal per game.

That number was 2.5 last season and 3.2 two years ago. He has relied more on tip-ins, registering 17 deflection shots already, nearly matching his total from the past two seasons.

While tipping pucks is a valuable skill, it should complement rather than replace his shot volume.

His slap shot usage has also declined sharply, down to just 0.15 per game-half of last season's rate and one-quarter of what it was two years ago.

Teams appear to have adjusted to his power-play one-timer, forcing him to find new ways to contribute.

As of this week, Pettersson ranks 116th in NHL scoring. Two years ago, he finished 10th.

Even with last season's late slump, he still managed 19th. The Canucks remain competitive, but with his $11.6 million salary, they need more from him.

Source:
The Province