Elias Pettersson is already back on the ice, and the timing is hard to miss.
With just under two months left before the start of the 2026-27 season, the Vancouver Canucks forward was seen training in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 4, at the Kings’ practice facility. The video quality makes it tough to pick out every skater, but Tyler Toffoli is clearly there, along with players wearing Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets practice jerseys. The clip also shows several skaters in Ontario Reign sweaters, plus one in a BCHL jersey.
Pettersson’s appearance in that workout has become a talking point largely because of what the Canucks’ new regime said in mid-May. Daniel Sedin stressed the importance of summer preparation when he spoke about the forward, saying, “With Elias, we’ve been through this as players,” Co-President of Hockey Operations Daniel Sedin shared.
“You’re going to have some really good seasons, you’re going to have some tough seasons. We’ve found that after a long career, looking back, our best seasons we had, we were well prepared.
That is everything you can control. It’s how hard you work in the summer, mentally ready to get when training camp hits.
I think that’s the one message to him: preparation.”
GM Ryan Johnson also made clear what he wants from the group heading into camp: “Here’s my initial thought on Elias: I want to wipe away all the expectations that may exist in him,” said GM Ryan Johnson. “Just like the rest of our hockey club, not just our players, but our staff.
We’re asking them to come into September the most prepared that they could be. For our players, it’s going to be physically and mentally to make a decision.”
Pettersson, 27, is coming off the worst statistical season of his eight-year NHL career. He finished with 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points in 74 games, a .69 points-per-game pace.
The Canucks are not expected to contend as they move through their rebuild, but seeing their $11.6 million AAV center grinding this early in the summer is still a positive sign. It suggests Pettersson has taken the criticism and is pushing toward a bounce-back season in 2026-27.
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