Elias Pettersson brushed off questions about confidence issues as he continues to struggle offensively since the Vancouver Canucks traded J.T. Miller.
“It’s more annoying dealing with the media,” Pettersson said of his scoring drought following Sunday’s loss to Utah, per Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre.
The Canucks center has recorded just two assists and four shots on goal in six games since Miller was moved to the New York Rangers.
The trade was expected to benefit Pettersson after reports of locker room tension between him and Miller, but the move appears to have had the opposite effect.
Pettersson said after the trade he welcomes the added pressure of being the player Vancouver chose to keep. His name had circulated in trade rumors throughout the situation as well.
Head coach Rick Tocchet believes Pettersson is hesitating with the puck.
“We’ve talked about he has to move his feet and can’t double clutch (with the puck),” Tocchet said. “I think he’s waiting for something. I don’t know if it’s a lack of confidence in his shot, but as soon as he has room, he’s got to take it and … just got to blast it. I’d rather him just rip a puck right now. He’s not moving his feet. I thought today, some shifts, he was moving his feet, and it looked like we had some glimpses.”
“I don’t know if it’s a mental block right now, all year, but he’s got to move his feet.”
Pettersson is currently in the first year of an eight-year, $11.6 million annual contract.
He has 35 points in 51 games this season, significantly below his production from the previous two seasons when he recorded 102 and 89 points.
