Vancouver plans to make a real comeback in the squad – says several NHL experts. Then comes a clear message about the Swedish star Elias Pettersson.
The Canucks had a tough season in the NHL. The club started badly, and lost a lot of ground to the places for a play-off place. The Canadians, on the other hand, pulled up after the turn of the year, but did not reach all the way.
New contract
Before the season, Elias Pettersson signed a lucrative contract with Vancouver. The Swede thus became one of the entire team’s highest paid players and the pressure on the 23-year-old is enormous.
It was also difficult for Elias Pettersson and he received a lot of criticism at the beginning of the competition year. But the Swede found the form a bit into the season, and still stood for his best season in terms of points in the NHL so far.
The Vancouver tops are far from happy with the season, and big changes in the squad are to be expected until after the summer.
The message of Elijah
Despite the fine second half of the season, President Jim Rutherford is looking at how Vancouver can strengthen the team – and not many players – according to experts Nick Kypreos and John Shannon – are safe.
The expert duo believes that only four players are considered to be the core and who will not leave at any cost. Elias Pettersson is one of them along with Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko, and Bo Horvat.
They believe that Rutherford will “blow up the bank”, which indicates that Elias Pettersson will in all probability get more profiled and heavy teammates next competition year.
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