It looks like Elias Pettersson will return to the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup tonight, as the club announced Friday afternoon that they had activated Pettersson from injured reserve (IR).

Pettersson’s return comes at a good time for the Canucks, as the club has struggled since returning from the holiday break. The Canucks’ only win since Pettersson went down with an injury was their 4-3 shootout victory over the Seattle Kraken on January 2nd, meaning the Canucks have yet to record a regulation win in six games without Pettersson.

Of course, Quinn Hughes was missing for four of those games as well, and he’s by far been the Canucks’ most important and most valuable player this season. That being said, Pettersson is no doubt a big part of the Canucks’ team, even if for his rock solid defensive play.

The Canucks will certainly be hoping Pettersson can pick up right where he left off upon returning, as in his last game against the San Jose Sharks on December 23rd, Pettersson scored two goals en route to a 4-3 Canucks win. Before that, though, it was a bit of a dry spell for the 26-year-old, as he went pointless in six games prior to the win over the Sharks.

It’s been an up and down (but mostly down) season for Pettersson, who is in year one of an eight-year deal with the Canucks that carries an $11.6 million annual average value. The Canucks signed Pettersson last season, and it was a slow finish to the year for number 40 and it’s been an inconsistent start to the season as well.

Through 34 games this season, Pettersson has recorded just 10 goals and 18 assists, which only puts him on pace to finish the season with 62 points — undoubtedly a disappointment for a player who’s paid as much as he is. While he was sidelined, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin did an interview in which he criticized just about everybody on the Canucks, but zeroed in on Pettersson, saying the Canucks’ star needed to “mature”, among other things.

The Canucks take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight, and Pettersson will be good to go after missing six games with an undisclosed injury. You can read our full gameday preview by clicking here!