Elias Pettersson credits mental coach, new environment for Canucks resurgence

EDMONTON · Elias Pettersson says a mental coach and a healthier environment with the Vancouver Canucks have sparked his resurgence this NHL season. The Swedish centre has four goals and 14 assists in 18 games and is playing a complete, physical game. He credits a shift in his personal approach and the atmosphere cultivated by new general manager Ryan Johnson and coach Manny Malhotra for the change. "For sure, I definitely feel a difference," Pettersson told Sportsnet after a practice in Edmonton. "I wasn't true to myself these last two years. But this summer, the end of last season, I started working with a mental coach and, honestly, that's been game-changing for me."

Pettersson said the mental coach, recommended by a friend, has helped him clarify his focus. He described feeling like himself, but better, and acknowledged there is still room for growth. The 27-year-old also pointed to an improved environment around the team. "I mean, (team) results don't show it, but I think the environment and everything for everyone is better," Pettersson said. "I don't like to talk about the past, but just the environment they’ve created, it's good. I've seen the difference."

General manager Ryan Johnson, hired in May, said he and Malhotra have emphasized creating a positive environment with clear standards as the foundation of the team's rebuild. Johnson said he had conversations with Pettersson this summer about life and family, not just hockey. "Having that understanding, I felt like I knew what he needed," Johnson said. "I felt like if we could deliver that (environment), it would make a big difference not only to the player but the person. At the end of the day, the one thing I wanted was that when Petey woke up in the morning, he would just be really excited to go to the rink and play hockey."

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Pettersson's on-ice engagement has been notable. He leads all NHL forwards with 24 shot blocks and 69 puck-battles won, is second among Canucks forwards with 39 hits, leads the league in faceoffs and is tied for eighth with nine penalties drawn. "Yes, he’s producing offensively, but you can not find one ounce of Elias’ production coming from cheating the game," Johnson said. "He is playing a complete game, physicality, faceoffs, puck battles. I’m really happy that he is getting uncomfortable in a way that makes him feel good."

Linemate Brock Boeser said he can see Pettersson's renewed confidence. "When he gets the puck, he's making plays and making those plays we used to see a few years ago," Boeser said. "Just so much more confident with the puck and making plays. After the last couple of years. . . this year, he's just been so dialled in. He comes to the rink, and his attitude and his effort has been so good." Coach Manny Malhotra said he sees "joy" back in Pettersson's game and is not surprised by his competitive engagement. "It looks to me like he's enjoying hockey right now," Malhotra said.

Pettersson averaged 15 goals and 48 points over the last two seasons after signing an eight-year, $92.8 million contract ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. He said he had tried working with mental coaches in the past without success, making him initially skeptical. He is not yet naming his current coach, saying their relationship is still developing. Johnson said his empathetic approach aims to give players a forum to express themselves without judgment. "I find enormous strength in weakness," Johnson said. "And if you have a forum that allows that (to be expressed), from my standpoint, that’s a huge step."

With files from Sportsnet