In the NHL, your best players need to consistently perform at their peak, especially during the Stanley Cup Playoffs when it's crucial for the high earners to make a significant impact on the ice. Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet has noted that one of his star players isn't meeting these expectations and has openly criticized him for it.
In Game 4 of the Canucks' second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Oilers clinched last night's game with a 3-2 victory, tying the series at two games apiece. Following the game, Tocchet expressed his dissatisfaction, pointing out that there were too many "passengers" on his team, including Pettersson.
""He needs to get going. I don't know what else to say."
We need five or six guys to get going here. I mean, this is the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There's some guys, I don't know if they (knew) it was the playoffs. We can't play with 12 guys.
You can't win if you have five, six, or seven passengers. It's playoff hockey. One of those guys can be the hero for us next game, but they've got to step it up."
Pettersson signed an eight-year, $92 million deal with the Canucks back in March that doesn't kick in until next season. In 10 postseason games, the Swede has been limited to just 1 goal and 3 assists.
Pettersson averaged more than a point-per-game during the regular season, scoring 34 goals and 55 assists in 82 games. The Canucks will need a lot more from him and others on the team to have any hope of moving past the Edmonton Oilers.
