Canucks forward Elias Pettersson says he played through a knee injury since January
By Jagraj Lalli
1 month agoDuring the Vancouver Canucks’ year-end media availability on Thursday, star forward Elias Pettersson revealed that he played with a knee injury since January.
“It’s been a nagging injury. The longer I went, the more I felt it,” Pettersson admitted, shedding additional light on his underwhelming performance in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Canucks’ playoff run was filled with many magical moments, but there were some concerns. Among the major ones was the performance of Elias Pettersson.
After scoring 89 points in the regular season, Pettersson was almost invisible in the postseason, managing just one goal and five assists in 13 games. He also fell short of expectations late in the regular season.
Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged Pettersson’s struggles during the playoff run. After Game 4 against Edmonton, Tocchet told reporters: “He’s got to get going. I don’t know what else to say.” Pettersson himself also recognized his difficulties.
“Obviously, myself, I know I can be better. I’m trying out there,” Pettersson said during the Oilers series. “It’s maybe not going the best way right now, but I’m trying. I want to win.”
When asked during Round 2 why he had struggled to generate chances at his usual pace if he wasn’t injured, Pettersson could only say, “Good question.” When asked if he had an answer, he simply replied, “No.”
On Thursday, Pettersson also emphasized the mental toll of the season, mentioning his contract negotiations and ongoing injury: “It will be nice to get a break from everything. It’s been a very noisy season.”
Despite his struggles, Pettersson assured that he won’t need surgery or major treatment for his injury, stating, “No, it just needs some time and rehab.”
The Canucks originally selected Pettersson with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Sundsvall, Sweden product has collected 170 goals and 412 points in 407 games over six NHL seasons with the Canucks, adding eight goals and 24 points in 30 playoff contests.
Pettersson is expected to be ready for the start of the Canucks’ training camp this upcoming fall ahead of the 2024-25 regular season, which will mark the beginning of the eight-year, $11.6 million contract extension he signed with the club in March.
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