Former NHL general manager and current analyst Craig Button had harsh criticism for the Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson during his long slump.

The Canucks are currently the worst team in the NHL, sitting in 32nd place in the league standings, with one of the lowest goal totals heading into the Olympic break and one of the highest goals totals.

Canucks management says they are moving toward restructuring rather than a full rebuild. Elias Pettersson has the franchise-high cap hit AAV of $11.6 million, but his performance this season has been nowhere near his previous elite level.

On the Donny & Daly podcast, Patton compared the situation to Jonathan HuberdeauPlays for the Calgary Flames. He said Pettersson’s best days as a top center appear to be behind him and the Canucks may have to accept a lower cap going forward.

“I’ll tell you straight: He’s probably Jonathan Huberdeau of the Vancouver Canucks. His best days are probably behind him. Again, you get to the point where you accept that. I mean, the Calgary Flames can’t trade Jonathan Huberdeau. Jonathan Huberdeau has always been a competitor; he’s a very strong voice and a great addition to the franchise. He’s never going to get back to 115 points,” Berube said.

He added:

“I don’t think EP40 is going to be a dominant center again. So you have to get to a point where you have to accept: Can he be a good second-line center? Can he be a good 70-point player for us? Are we just going to put up with the money? I think that’s the reality, Rick and Donny.

Olympics offer Elias Pettersson chance to turn things around

Elias Pettersson heads to the 2026 Winter Olympics with Team Sweden, hoping to make a comeback in a difficult NHL season.

Can he translate that into production and bring the momentum back? canucks The NHL’s post-Olympic push remains a big question, but the hope is clear: This game provides Pettersson with a chance to prove doubters wrong and spark a turnaround.

The 27-year-old has scored 13 goals, 34 points and 21 assists in 49 games this season.