Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson met with media today after his on-ice session on day one of training camp from the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Entering the first year of an eight-year deal that will pay him $11.6 million annually, expectations are high for Pettersson, who was one of the NHL’s most productive players until the end of January, where his play took a steep decline that carried into the playoffs.

Today, Pettersson skated on a line with rookie Jonathan Lekkerimäki and free agent acquisition Jake DeBrusk, a trio Pettersson said he likes.

“I felt good, it’s exciting to get started again. I like our line with Lekkerimaki and DeBrusk. He brings a lot of skill and obviously we’ve played him before. He’s a good two-way player who works hard,” Pettersson said about DeBrusk. “He’s skillful, he works hard, he plays the body, and he goes to the dirty areas. I think it’s the combination of physical play and smartness.”

On Lekkerimäki, Pettersson said:

“I’ve seen his highlights, but this was our first practice together and I really like what I see. He’s got skill, and he’s got a good shot.”

Pettersson, who shared at season-ending media availability last season that he was dealing with knee tendinitis down the final stretch, says he had a good summer despite having to train around his injury.

“I had a good summer, I had to train around my knee injury, but I feel great. I don’t know how exactly to explain it but it’s a nagging injury that doesn’t want to go away easily, but we figured out a way to work around it. I don’t feel any pain in it now or after [the skates], it’s not a big thing, knee is fine.”

Pettersson also talked about the importance of moving past last year’s struggles down the stretch.

“I’m always my biggest critic and I’m never going to shy away if I play good or bad. Now I’m just accepting that it wasn’t my best hockey at the end of the year, but that’s in the past and I’m looking forward to this year… I’ve always got the biggest expectations for myself and that hasn’t changed.”

Finally, Pettersson talked about serving as a mentor for Lekkerimäki, who is in a similar spot that Pettersson was a few years back when he first broke into the league from the SHL.

“Whatever I feel I can help him with, I’ll talk to him about it. If he ever wonders anything he can always come to me and talk. He’s a good player and I’m sure he can figure it out himself, but I’ll always try to help him.”