"I haven't played to the expectations," admits Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson

The Vancouver Canucks faced another setback on Saturday night, falling 6-3 to the Seattle Kraken in a game filled with momentum swings. Despite taking the lead twice, defensive lapses and a late surge from Seattle proved too much to overcome. With this loss marking their fourth in five games, the Canucks are struggling to find consistency as their slump deepens.


Elias Pettersson’s scoring struggles are a growing concern for the Canucks. With just one goal and six assists in 20 games, his offensive dip is evident. His $11.6 million-per-year contract, which includes a no-movement clause starting in July, raises questions about his future.
His offensive output has declined, he's shooting less, his one-timers rank 181st in the league, and fewer than half hit the target. Compared to 2022-23, he’s generating fewer scoring chances.
After Tuesday’s practice, Pettersson admitted he hasn’t met expectations but is focused on moving forward.
"I think about it a lot. I'll just be honest, I haven't been the way I want to be this year. I haven't played to the expectations I have on myself, or the franchise has on me, but that's in the past. I wish we had more wins, I wish I had played a lot better, but can't dwell on that anymore," Pettersson mentioned.
He also addressed his "annoying" media comment from Feb. 25, admitting frustration got the best of him.
"I was really, really mad at that moment. I said something I didn't mean. Said media is annoying, which is some days can but it's the last thing that's making me play bad or not myself this year. I just wanted to make that clear," Pettersson added.
With the playoffs approaching, the Canucks need Pettersson to regain his scoring touch fast.

The Vancouver Canucks’ struggles continued with a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, their fourth defeat in five games. Elias Pettersson went without a shot in 16:14 of ice time but picked up a penalty for tripping Chandler Stephenson.
Seattle struck first with Andre Burakovsky scoring at 5:47, but Pius Suter and Filip Chytil put Vancouver ahead. Oliver Bjorkstrand tied it in the second before Dakota Joshua’s short-handed goal briefly gave the Canucks the lead. However, Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen quickly turned the tide for Seattle.
Brandon Montour extended the lead in the third, and Tolvanen’s empty-netter sealed Vancouver’s fate. The Canucks are now searching for answers as their slump deepens.
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