Former NHL general manager and analyst Craig Button voiced sharp criticism of Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson during the player’s ongoing difficult stretch this season. The Canucks currently hold the last place in the NHL standings, grappling with low scoring numbers and a high tally of goals allowed as the league pauses for the Olympic break.
Analysis of Pettersson’s Current Performance and Expectations
Vancouver’s front office has communicated that the team is aiming for a retooling phase rather than a complete rebuild. Despite carrying the largest cap hit on the roster at $11.6 million average annual value, Pettersson’s output has fallen short of his previously elite standards this year. On the Donnie and Dhali podcast, Craig Button drew parallels between Pettersson’s situation and Jonathan Huberdeau’s tenure with the Calgary Flames, suggesting that Pettersson’s peak as a leading top-line center may have passed.
“I’ll be straightforward with you guys: he might be the Vancouver Canucks’ Jonathan Huberdeau. His best days may be behind him. And again, you get to a point where you accept that. I mean, the Calgary Flames can’t trade Jonathan Huberdeau. And Jonathan Huberdeau has been a competitor; he’s been a really strong voice and a member of the team. He’s never going to get back to 115 points,” Berube said.
Button continued by indicating a tempered outlook for Pettersson’s future contributions.
“I don’t think EP40 is ever going to get back to being a dominant center. So you’ve got to get to a point where you’ve got to accept: can he be a good second-line center? Can he be a good 70-point guy for us and we’re going to just have to live with the money? I think that’s the reality of the situation, Rick and Donnie.
Opportunity for Renewal at the 2026 Winter Olympics
As Pettersson prepares to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, there is hope that the tournament will provide him with a platform to regain confidence and momentum. His ability to return to Vancouver reinvigorated and productive will be critical as the Canucks attempt to improve following the Olympic hiatus.
Currently 27 years old, Pettersson has accumulated 34 points this season, registering 13 goals and 21 assists across 49 games. Whether he can overcome this slump and fulfill the expectations tied to his significant salary remains uncertain but crucial for the team’s prospects.
The challenges facing Elias Pettersson symbolize broader difficulties within the Canucks’ roster that have left them at the bottom of the NHL standings. How management proceeds—balancing faith in key players like Pettersson with potential adjustments—will shape the franchise’s trajectory in the coming months and seasons.
"He might be the Vancouver Canucks Jonathan Huberdeau, his best days might be behind him.."@CraigJButton on if the Olympics can jumpstart EP40.
Full interview..https://t.co/ZZGiI34RZT pic.twitter.com/glO7PJjC2r
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) February 11, 2026
