The Canucks are still adjusting to the fact that it is the offseason. Vancouver was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday by the Oilers in a 3-2 defeat. The Canucks' playoff run surprised many and was a successful season, but that doesn't mean the team is happy that they were recently eliminated. Forward Elias Pettersson gave a soundbite that highlights his frustration with the situation.
“It's been a noisy season in terms of the contract and how sh** I've been the last few months.” Pettersson said.
Pettersson is referring to the eight-year, $92.8 million contract he signed with Vancouver in March.
Pettersson revealed on Thursday that he played with a knee injury since January. Understandably, it impacted his performance on the ice.
“It’s been a nagging injury, so the longer it went, the more pain I felt,” the 25-year-old forward said.
Pettersson logged 34 goals and 55 assists in the regular season. He struggled in the playoffs, managing only one goals and five assists in 13 playoff games.
Despite the loss, Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said he was proud of his team's fight and determination.
“This team brought respect back to this city and this jersey, let's face it,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “There's no quit in this team. I’m really proud of the guys.”
He also heaped praise on relief goalie Arturs Silovs, who played magnificently down the stretch.
“‘Arty' played his [butt] off for us,” Tocchet said. “What a playoff for that kid and his growth, so there's a lot of positives out of that.”
J.T. Miller also recently shared his thoughts on the series.
“Hard-fought game, hard-fought series. We were a bounce away,” Miller said. “I just love this team, man. I just love that we don't give up ever. It's a good sign.”
Canucks not satisfied after playoff run
The Canucks are not happy with the way their season ended.
Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin spoke with the media on Thursday following a round of exit interviews with the team. He expressed his displeasure to the media.
“I'm not happy sitting here to be sitting here today. Definitely not satisfied,” Allvin said. “We lost our last game and it was only in round two.”
Vancouver spent much of the season at the top of NHL rankings. They finished the season with a 50-23-9 record and had a run in the playoffs that they haven't experienced in years. The Canucks made the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 COVID-condensed season and hosted playoff games for the first time since 2015. There is certainly reason for optimism about the future.
“I think we got better. But that being said, we're not satisfied at all,” Allvin said of the season. “You don't know how many chances you're going to have to play in Game 7.”
Forward J.T. Miller believes that making the playoffs will “put a hunger” in the stomachs of his Canuck teammates.
“At the end of the day we have a really good hockey team and we have a lot of good qualities and these opportunities just don't come around very often,” Miller said.
“That is going to be a challenge, not taking it for granted and raising the bar again,” Miller said. “Because we can feel good about what we did this year but at the end of the day we still lost. And for me, it makes me want to work even harder knowing that we're a goal or two away from Final Four.”
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