Rick Tocchet Stresses Accountability as Elias Pettersson Responds to Reduced Ice Time with Goal
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet made it clear that no player is exempt from earning their minutes, including star center Elias Pettersson. After Pettersson saw his ice time dip to 16:05 against the Dallas Stars, he rebounded with a more energetic performance against the Montreal Canadiens, scoring a power-play goal despite Vancouver’s 4-2 loss.
Tocchet acknowledged Pettersson’s effort but reiterated that ice time must be earned:
“You got to earn your ice time. I don’t care how long you’ve been here. That’s how you win Stanley Cups.”
Pettersson, who signed an eight-year, $92.8 million contract in March 2024, has struggled offensively this season with just 37 points in 58 games—a sharp drop from his 102-point campaign in 2022-23.
Canucks’ Playoff Push Faces Challenges
Despite a late-game push, Vancouver couldn’t overcome Montreal’s early three-goal lead. The Canucks are now 0-19-4 when trailing after two periods, highlighting their struggles in comeback situations. With a 29-24-11 record, they sit two points shy of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Vancouver will look to bounce back when they face the Calgary Flames on Wednesday in a crucial matchup for their playoff hopes.