Pettersson ready for fresh start as Canucks establish new culture

VANCOUVER — The word of the day Monday for Elias Pettersson was"excited." And not just to play golf in the Vancouver Canucks' annual pre-training camp charity tournament, although that, too, is for the avid golfer.

In his media scrum on the tarmac outside Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey, the permanently enigmatic centre said eight times in six minutes that he is excited to be back with the Canucks and playing hockey again. Pettersson’s excitement-per-minute, even delivered in his stoic manner, was especially impressive since reporters' voices occupied half of his press conference.

If Pettersson plays this National Hockey League season with even half the excitement of his word count on Monday, maybe the $92.8-million veteran actually can roll back time and be something closer to the first-line star he once was.

But as we’ve said before, it has been so long since Pettersson was the 102-point offensive virtuoso (in 2022-23) who commanded that franchise-record contract that everyone, including his employers, should stop dreaming wistfully of a return to world-class stardom for the Swede and instead focus on how he can help the Canucks now.

Pettersson is coming off back-to-back 15-goal seasons in which he amassed 96 points over 138 games, production worthy of a solid second-line NHL centre.

These points, of course, were squeezed from him under extreme duress. None of the Canucks still standing (in Vancouver) has been buffeted more than Pettersson by the hurricane of upheaval that engulfed the franchise the last two seasons.

With his inflated salary and deflated scoring totals, Pettersson exposed himself to the severe weather, criticism and constant trade speculation.

With the arrival of calm and empathetic general manager Ryan Johnson, backed by Hall-of-Fame Canucks and human beings Henrik and Daniel Sedin as co-presidents, those storms have finally abated as the team rebuilds.

Pettersson should finally find some calm. Maybe that will help the 27-year-old be a better player and better leader in his ninth NHL season.

“R.J. is someone I’ve known for a long time, and he's always been a good guy for me,” Pettersson told reporters in his first media availability since the Canucks’ season ended in April.

“He's been good, just talking about the future, what he wants to see from me. Yeah, it makes me feel good.

“I play my best when I just feel like myself. He's been good in that regard; he just wants the best from you and wants everyone to be happy.

So it's been good.”

There was no “excitement” in that answer, but it was probably the most important thing Pettersson said.

He needs to feel like he can be himself — because we’ve seen that version be a pretty good player. Pettersson stopped being that person pretty much the moment former president Jim Rutherford boxed him into that contract, under threat of trade ahead of the 2024 NHL deadline, which made Pettersson the fifth-highest-paid player in hockey at the time.

“Here's my initial thought on Elias,” Johnson said when he was hired in May, “I want to wipe away all the expectations. not just our players, but our staff.

We're asking them to come in September the most prepared that they could be, and for our players, that's going to be physically and mentally ready to make a decision. I'm looking forward to talking to him and just letting him know that that's what's important to me out of the gate.”

And after telephone conversations with Pettersson, Johnson told Sportsnet in July: “Without going into details, Petey and I have had a very open dialogue since I've come on board — a real sense of just being honest without judgment. I have a tonne of respect for Petey, his journey, and how he's gotten to this point.”

Johnson went on to say that he would be honest with Pettersson, and all his players, while still doing what’s best for the organization. Which means Pettersson remains subject to trade, especially if his play this season re-establishes decent market value.

But in the meantime, Johnson, who knows some of the Canucks from his early role in player development in Vancouver, will support and encourage Pettersson and make sure he’s comfortable in what the new GM insists will be a safe, inclusive dressing room — the focal point of the organization's foundational plan to build a better culture.

“Just seeing him, he seems like he's in a great mental headspace right now,” long-time teammate Brock Boeser said Monday of Pettersson. “He's coming to the rink and working hard.

I think that's just a start in the right direction, a step in the right direction and, you know, I'm happy to see how he does this year.”

“I mean, I think it goes with everyone: if you feel good and happy. playing hockey gets easier,” Pettersson said.

“I can see that, understand it (in Brock) and definitely can feel that, too, for myself.”

Earlier, Pettersson said: “I just want to get back to myself; I haven't been that the last two years. But it's in the past.

I'm coming in with a fresh mind, excited to play hockey again.”

It is not in Pettersson’s introverted nature to be vocal, but he said he, Boeser and goalie Thatcher Demko have a responsibility as the longest-serving Canucks to lead by example and help establish the team’s new standards.

“The Sedins have been here their whole career, and R.J. played here a long time, too,” he said.

“So they know what us players are going through, and they're just trying to set the best standards and environment for us to succeed. So I’m very excited.”

Canucks’ Brooks Rogowski just beginning his climb as a top prospect

DeBrusk learning to embrace Canucks rebuild after ’emotional time’