The Canuck Way
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Canucks: 3 players that need to bounce back in 2021-22

By William Akers

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 15: J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on May 15, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - MAY 15: J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on May 15, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 19: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks shoots the puck during the pre-game warmup. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 19: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks shoots the puck during the pre-game warmup. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Bounce back candidate #2: Elias Pettersson

Seeing Elias Pettersson on this list may come as a shock to you, but allow this writer to make sense of it first. No one should be doubting the talent and potential that comes with a player of Pettersson’s calibre. Having tallied 153 points (65 goals, 88 assists) in 165 regular season games, Pettersson is a legitimate number one centre in the NHL, and is the current face of the franchise for the Canucks.

General Manager Jim Benning and Pettersson’s representatives are currently in negotiations to resign the RFA, which would hopefully keep Petey in Vancouver for the long haul. Whether or not Pettersson gets his big payday this offseason or in the coming years, he has to have a bounce back year in terms of his health.

After missing 11 games in his rookie season, Pettersson was able to stay in the lineup more frequently as a sophomore, missing only one game for Vancouver. However, during the recent 2021 season, Pettersson’s availability dropped massively due to a nagging wrist injury, causing him to miss 30 games. We’re in no way blaming Pettersson for his injury (freak accidents do happen), but it’s been long understood in sports that your best ability is availability; if Pettersson can’t provide that to the Canucks, then this roster stands no shot of being where they want to be.

Hopefully, we’ll all be able to see Pettersson have a bounce back campaign, suiting up for at least 75 games next season while also playing up to his elite talent potential.

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