Henrik Sedin, new co-president of the Canucks gave a blunt evaluation of center Elias Pettersson while appearing on the "32 Thoughts" podcast with Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas.
Asked directly how or if he sees Pettersson as part of the team's future, Sedin said, "Yeah, it's a Canadian market — there's going to be a lot of talk about your best players and the guy who gets paid the most. That's just the way it is, and especially where [Pettersson's] been in his career, putting up over 100 points. I think for him, we're going to be there to support him.
"I mean he, in the end, needs to decide. We can't push him to do anything," Sedin continued on Pettersson. "He needs to decide what player he wants to be, because when he is prepared and when he comes into [a] season well-prepared, I think he's going to surprise a lot of people, but it's going to be up to him to decide what he wants to do.
"We'll be there to support him, he's going to have to make a decision."
My take: Some proper tough love directed at Pettersson. The reports of him not being fully engaged in maximizing his performance are true apparently. Perhaps Pettersson will receive the message clearly from Sedin, who played with him his rookie year. A massive waste of talent if he decides to maintain his current dedication level.
THE ASYLUM
Sedin: Pettersson 'needs to decide'
Henrik Sedin, new co-president of the Canucks gave a blunt evaluation of center Elias Pettersson while appearing on the "32 Thoughts" podcast with Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas.
Asked directly how or if he sees Pettersson as part of the team's future, Sedin said, "Yeah, it's a Canadian market — there's going to be a lot of talk about your best players and the guy who gets paid the most. That's just the way it is, and especially where [Pettersson's] been in his career, putting up over 100 points. I think for him, we're going to be there to support him.
"I mean he, in the end, needs to decide. We can't push him to do anything," Sedin continued on Pettersson. "He needs to decide what player he wants to be, because when he is prepared and when he comes into [a] season well-prepared, I think he's going to surprise a lot of people, but it's going to be up to him to decide what he wants to do.
"We'll be there to support him, he's going to have to make a decision."
My take: Some proper tough love directed at Pettersson. The reports of him not being fully engaged in maximizing his performance are true apparently. Perhaps Pettersson will receive the message clearly from Sedin, who played with him his rookie year. A massive waste of talent if he decides to maintain his current dedication level.
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