Canucks' Elias Pettersson gets candid about his scoring woes as pressure mounts on $92.8M star

Elias Pettersson is working to find his scoring touch again this season. The Vancouver Canucks center has 3 goals and 10 points in 15 games. His playmaking remains strong, but his goal totals are lower than expected.

Last season, Pettersson scored 45 points in 64 games, far from his 102-point season in 2022-23. His production drop was also linked to locker room problems and tension with J.T. Miller, who was traded to the NY Rangers in January.

The Canucks are 7-8-0 and sit near the bottom of the Pacific Division. Their offense production is limited as they are averaging merely 2.67 goals per game. Pettersson’s passing has helped, but Vancouver needs him to score more. So far, he has attempted just 23 shots, but he will have to carry more offensive load for the team to succeed.

In an interview with Sportsnet, Elias Pettersson, who is signed to a $92.8M contract, spoke openly about his mindset.

"I agree, I can shoot more," Pettersson said. "There's nothing hindering me from shooting. I think I’ve always been a pass-first guy, and if I think I could put someone else in a better position to score, then I always do that. That's how I see the game.

"I’ve always been like that. But I also know I have a good shot."

However, Pettersson said it is a habit he wants to improve this season.

"Definitely, I think, it's a mindset that I can be better at," Pettersson said. "Like, I know I have a good shot, but maybe I haven't scored as much lately, so I’m trying to find a good pass instead. It's a mindset. I know I can score, but yeah, I'm always trying to find the perfect play."

Elias Pettersson is trying to play a smart, two-way game. His focus is on game management and making the right decision for each situation. The Canucks hope he can find the right balance and regain his scoring confidence soon.

Elias Pettersson was looking for 'revenge' this season

In the summer of 2025, Elias Pettersson was prioritising improvement after a disappointing 45-point season. He spoke about it at Sweden’s Olympic camp in early August, saying he wants "revenge". The Canucks forward said he was not happy with his performance last year.

"I know what I'm capable of," Pettersson said in early August. "Actually, I haven't thought about it, but for myself it's revenge. I'm not happy with last season."

Pettersson spent the summer building strength and improving his speed. He missed time last season because of knee and oblique issues, but entered this season stronger and is improving.