The Vancouver Canucks have been eliminated from the playoffs, but at least they saw a better version of Elias Pettersson towards the end of the second-round series against the Oilers than he previously performed.
Pettersson signed a big contract earlier this season and is arguably the biggest star in Vancouver.
He has produced a great load of points during his last couple of seasons, and fans expected him to take even further steps in his first real playoff (not counting the bubble playoffs).
Elias Pettersson’s wingers were disappointing, but head coach Rick Tocchet called Pettersson out after Game 4 against the Oilers, saying he needs to do better.
Pettersson has always found a way to score and hasn’t had many slumps during his career. But during this playoff, he hasn’t looked like himself. And that has led to criticism from fans.
But now, former NHLer and NHL analyst P.K. Subban slams back at those calling Pettersson ’soft.’
On ESPN, Subban showed a sequence from Pettersson where he drove the puck forward and was in several physical battles.
”Everyone saying this guy is soft, he’s not soft. He’s the furthest thing from soft,” Subban said.
”I don’t know what’s been going on in the playoffs, but this guy ain’t soft.”
Subban showed a clip of Pettersson driving the net as an example.
”This is when he’s at his best, getting the puck through the neutral zone with speed, skating, moving his legs, kicking it out, and look: Even when he’s out of the battle, he’s back into it. He’s not spinning out. If he’s not in the corner, he’s going to the net front. He falls down, back up, waiting for a point shot.
He also showed how Elias Pettersson laid a big hit on Oilers’ defenseman Mattias Ekholm.
”Gets in, lowers the boom on the fore check. That’s Mattias Ekholm by the way! Gets back to the net front, falls down, back up again. It’s a dog on the bone mentality. You know what dog on the bone is? I want my bone! I want my bone! He wants his bone, look at him chase down this bone, almost knocks out Evan Bouchard into the next year. That’s what I need out of Elias Pettersson.”
He also slammed back at anyone saying Pettersson doesn’t deserve his big contract.
”He’s got signed the big ticket, he’s making the big money. That’s the guy that I know.”
