VANCOUVER – Elias Pettersson revealed it was a wrist injury that forced him to miss the Vancouver Canucks’ last 30 games this season, but the team’s number one center said on Thursday he expected to be in full health when the next season begins.
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The 22-year-old forward said he suffered hyperextension of his wrist when his stick hit a pad during a 4-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on March 1. He took part in his team’s 5-2 loss to Winnipeg the next day, but left early morning practice on March 4 and never returned to play afterwards, despite being initially announced that he was being reassessed on a daily basis for an upper body injury.
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Pettersson said surgery was considered, but ultimately was not necessary.
“It just takes time for it to heal,” Pettersson said. We discussed the possibility of an operation, but the doctors made the right decision to go for rest.
“It has been very difficult for me since my injury. I didn’t think it would take that long. I’m still not 100 percent back, but it just takes some more rest and a training schedule over the summer and I’ll be ready to play next season. “
Pettersson has been skating solo since his injury, but has struggled to take shots.
“It’s really when I want to shoot that I annoy me, when I’m trying to bend my stick,” added Pettersson. I can train without problem. It’s on the ice that it gets complicated, but I manage to train. “
Pettersson has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 26 games this season, which includes 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his last 14 games. He had 66 points in each of his first two seasons in the NHL, including 27 goals in 68 games last season.
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The fifth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, Pettersson won the Calder Trophy as 2019 Rookie of the Year, and recorded 153 points (65 goals, 88 assists) in 165 NHL games. He could become a free agent with compensation during the offseason.
“This is where I want to play,” said Pettersson. Regarding my contractual situation, that’s why I’m hiring an agent. I don’t have to be stressed out about my contract. I just can’t wait to sign this agreement and look to the future. “
Vancouver (23-29-4) finished seventh and last in the Scotia North section this season and did not make the Stanley Cup playoffs after reaching the second round of the Western Conference la last season. Pettersson amassed 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 17 playoff games, finishing tied with center J.T. Miller (six goals, 12 assists) ranked first in the Canucks, before seeing the team eliminated in seven games by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vancouver started the season 6-11-0, and after a scheduled six-day break with the team going 16-18-3 on March 30, Adam Gaudette received a positive COVID-19 test result and was withdrawn from training. It was the first sign of an outbreak that affected 22 players and four staff, including coach Travis Green. The Canucks saw nine of their games postponed, and didn’t play again until April 18. They compiled a 7-11-1 record from that date.
“I think we showed in the playoffs last year that we can compete with the best teams in the League,” said Pettersson. We did not have the expected start this season, and I did not have the start I wanted to know. We finally started to find our rhythm after 10 or 15 games, and I was feeling great, but I got injured and haven’t played since. So it was definitely my most frustrating season so far. “
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