Elias Pettersson has certainly given the Canucks management something to think about.
Earlier this week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claimed that the Vancouver Canucks aren’t sure about Pettersson’s future. Friedman also broke the story earlier this autumn about Pettersson wanting to wait and see before signing his next big contract with the Canucks.
Pettersson is in the final year of his contract, and after reportedly wanting to ”wait-and-see‚” the Canucks also seem hesitant to commit long-term.
“Since Pettersson came out and said, ‘I’m not sure yet,’ I think the Canucks have also kind of indicated, ‘you know what, we’re not sure, either.’ Because if there’s any doubt that Pettersson wants to make a commitment, I’m not convinced that they want to make a commitment. So, this will be a fascinating development,” Friedman said.
Well, despite all the talk, Elias Pettersson went out and erupted in the Canucks’ first game of the NHL season. The Vancouver Canucks had three four-point players as they absolutely destroyed the Edmonton Oilers, making a statement, winning 8-1. Elias Pettersson set the tone with a beautiful assist to Connor Garland, who scored 1-0.
In the second period, Pettersson had another assist, this time to Brock Bowser, who completed his hattrick, and minutes later, the Swede scored his first goal of the season to make it 5-1. Pettersson had an assist in the third period as well.
Pettersson recorded 102 points in 80 games played last year and started his season with a four-point game, and after a disappointing last year for the Canucks, the team seems to have found something, and fans couldn’t be more excited.
But Pettersson didn’t just score a goal and assists against Edmonton. He also laid one of the biggest hits we’ve seen this season. Oilers’ Cody Ceci is listed at 210lb, while Pettersson is listed at 176. But that didn’t matter, as the Swede absolutely trucked his opponent with a beautiful hit. The replays showed that Pettersson left the ice with both of his feet, and it should’ve been penalized as charging. But the referees didn’t call the play, and fans loved the massive hit.
”Thought I read that backwards at first but nope. Nice hit,” one said.
”To the people saying it’s charging: he only left his feet because Ceci tripped him as he was going in for the hit. If he didn’t get his stick in Peteys feet he’s staying planted tho whole way through. Probably wouldn’t have been as big of an impact though,” another said.
”Petey’s on his Goon arc,” a third added.
