Brock Boeser sees an inspired Pettersson ahead of new-look Canucks’ camp

Brock Boeser sees an inspired Pettersson ahead of new-look Canucks’ camp JOSHUA CLIPPERTON LAS VEGAS THE CANADIAN PRESS PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO Open this photo in gallery: Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser, left, celebrates a goal with centre Elias Pettersson against the Stars in Dallas last year. TONY GUTIERREZ/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Brock Boeser had an unfortunate front-row seat for his friend and teammate’s struggles. The Vancouver Canucks winger is also convinced Elias Pettersson is doing all he can to rediscover a breathtaking on-ice mojo that earned him the biggest contract in franchise history. “Seems like he’s in a great headspace,” Boeser said of the 27-year-old Swedish centre at this week’s NHL/NHLPA player media tour. “Way better than the last few years.” Pettersson burst onto the North American scene in 2018-19, earning Calder Trophy honours as the league’s rookie of the year with 66 points (28 goals, 38 assists) across 71 games. He continued that rise and then exploded with a 102-point campaign that included a career-high 39 goals in 2022-23. Pettersson had a great start to the following season with 75 points (29 goals, 46 assists) in 63 games to pave the way for an eight-year, US$92.8-million extension that carried an $11.6-million average annual value and a full no-movement clause. It didn’t take long before the wheels fell off — for both Pettersson and the Canucks. He added 14 more points to close out the regular schedule as Vancouver finished first in the Pacific Division, but a nagging knee injury saw his playoff production dip to one goal and five assists in 13 contests as the Canucks fell to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the teams’ second-round series. Things went from bad to worse when Vancouver reconvened the following September. Pettersson and fiery centre J.T. Miller butted heads in a relationship that grew increasingly fractured. The issues festered and came to a head before the latter was traded to the New York Rangers in January 2025. Pettersson’s stat line, meanwhile, cratered with just 45 points in 64 games. That downward trend continued this past season with a second consecutive 15-goal output that ended with just 51 points in 74 games for a team that finished a distant last in the overall standings in a term accented by the trade of captain and star defenceman Quinn Hughes…