Just what Canucks center Elias Pettersson needs; more attention, more pressure. That’ll be the case as the season gets underway with the lack of depth up Vancouver’s middle.
“I think the centres we have are good as long as they stay healthy,” Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said on Wednesday. “If you look at our team today compared to where we were a year ago, a lot of things have improved, from our goaltending to our defence, and then we’ll see how the forwards play out. But with that being said, I like the group of guys we have, and for the most part, with the parity in the league, you have to have everything go right.”
Not exactly reassuring; nor innocuous. Just somewhere down the middle about the shortcomings up the middle.
Hand wringing over Pettersson’s poor performance last season lasted throughout the off-season, which included absurd trade rumours and general concerns.
The time … his time … has arrived.
There’s no J.T. Miller around, there’s no injuries. Just a happy newlywed with a stronger body.
“I said in the exit meetings (this past spring) it’s gonna take … use the extra time with the missed playoffs, and I think I did, and I’m happy where I’m at,” Petey said Thursday. “I definitely feel stronger, shots a little harder, overall just feel stronger and better.”
He’ll need strong shoulders to potentially carry the load. Should the depth falter or be unhealthy — see Filip Chytil, Teddy Blueger, and Aatu Raty, or any one of a number of young replacements — it’ll be even harder for Petey to get the job done. His line will be getting a lot of attention from opponents either way.
The annoying, sometimes obnoxious questions will follow.
“I’m trying not to let things distract me, maybe they did in recent years or last year,” he said before a sigh. “Still growing, I’m not perfect, what’s in the past is in the past, I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.”
In the meantime, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin will continue to work the phones to add help. There’s not much out there, at least no one that’s available without getting very creative. The club will forge ahead with what it has up front.
Good luck Petey.
Earlier Canucks:
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