NHL analysts urge Elias Pettersson to "have big summer" following disappointing season 

Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson had an extremely difficult 2024-25 season.

It began with a long-rumored rift with J.T. Miller that ultimately led Vancouver to send Miller to New York. Then came speculation about Pettersson himself getting traded amid a major lack of production. To finish it all off, he suffered an injury that cut his season short in mid-March. It all snowballed into a nightmare of a year for Pettersson.

His struggles were a major reason the Vancouver Canucks (88 points) missed the playoffs just one year after coming within one win of reaching the Western Conference Final in 2023-24.

During an intermission report on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night, panelists Kevin Bieksa, Luke Gazdic and Elliotte Friedman what lies ahead for Pettersson and the Canucks. Sportsnet shared the video on X (formerly Twitter).

"Pettersson has to have a big summer, I think," Gazdic said. "Going back to Sweden or wherever he's spending his offseason, have a big summer...I'm just saying he has to have a big summer. He obviously couldn't even finish this year, health-wise, so you want to see him back to full strength."

"Pettersson, they're gonna ask him, not to spend the whole summer in Vancouver, but more time in Vancouver," Friedman added.

Elias Pettersson is in the first season of a massive eight-year, $92.8 million contract extension signed with the Canucks in 2024. His full no-movement clause is set to take effect July 1, 2025.

Elias Pettersson finishes with the lowest points-per-game season of his NHL career

Elias Pettersson just had his worst statistical season at the NHL level.

The 26-year-old recorded only 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 64 games during the 2024-25 campaign. His 0.703 points-per-game average was the lowest of his seven-year career by a wide margin, with his 0.808 rate from the 2020-21 season being the only comparable.

It's been a drastic turn since agreeing to a long-term deal to stay in Vancouver. Pettersson has tallied 59 points (20 goals, 39 assists) in 84 combined games since signing the extension. The Canucks will need him to return to the superstar form he has previously shown if they hope to bounce back next season.

The Canucks will play their second-to-last game of the season Monday night without Pettersson, as they host the San Jose Sharks. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. EST at Rogers Arena.