"We're In A Dogfight, So To Speak, And We're Up For The Challenge": Marcus Pettersson Discusses His First Month With The Vancouver Canucks
It has been just over a month since the Vancouver Canucks pulled off two significant trades that vastly altered their lineup. One of the moves was to bring in defenceman Marcus Pettersson, who has already signed a six-year extension with the organization. Not only does Pettersson bring plenty of on-ice experience to the Canucks, but he is also touted as a leader, according to current Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.
Latest From THN's Vancouver Canucks Site:
Who Leads The Vancouver Canucks In Shots This Season?
The Weekly Rewind: Vancouver Canucks Recaps From February 24 to March 2, 2025
"You're Down The Pipe, You Gotta Shoot The Puck": Canucks Rick Tocchet Discusses The Best Way To Bump A Scoring Slump
Since being acquired on January 31, Pettersson has played in all nine games for Vancouver. He is averaging 21:36 of ice time, has recorded 16 blocked shots and already has his first assist with the Canucks. As Pettersson explains, he is already starting to get closer to his teammates and is ready to do whatever it takes to help Vancouver qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Learned a lot," said Pettersson. "You get to learn everybody on a deeper level. First week was kind of in quick, and then we had that break. It's a group that wants to strike forward and wants to win. Every day, you see it. You see it in practice. Every day, we compete hard. We just got to find a way here. We're in a dogfight, so to speak, and we're up for the challenge."
Get to know the newest @Canucks defender. 👊@kbieksa3 breaks down what Vancouver can expect of Marcus Pettersson. pic.twitter.com/sk9Im5j3sH
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 8, 2025
Pettersson, as well as Drew O'Connor, Filip Chytil and Victor Mancini, joined the Canucks at an interesting time in the schedule. Vancouver played four games but then had close to a two-week break as the 4 Nations Face-Off took place. According to Pettersson, the break was actually helpful as it allowed him, as well as the other three new players, an opportunity to acclimatize to their new organization and city.
"It is a little different, but all the teams went through it. The first week here, we got traded and played the next day. Three out of four played the next day, and it's kind of like being thrown into the fire right away. So, that couple of weeks helped to decompartmentalize and settle in with everything that happened. We're back at it now, and feel like all four of us are getting closer and closer with everybody in here each day."
Once the team returned from the 4 Nations Face-Off Break, the Canucks hit the road for a five-game road trip. While players spend plenty of time together while the team is at home, long road trips can help forge bonds, especially with new players. Despite the trip not producing great on-ice results, one positive was that it did allow Pettersson to get to know his new teammates better.
"Yeah, you do. You get to know teammates a lot more. You spend every day on flights and hotels and stuff like that. Results-wise, it didn't go the way we wanted. Some of the games, we were in them and let teams in the games a little bit too easy. I mean (Saturday), if you look at the scoring chances and stuff like that, we got to do a better job in front of our net. I feel like we played some great hockey (Saturday). We can't get frustrated. Like I said before, we're in the dogfight here, and we gotta take each day as it comes and get better."
Looking ahead, one thing that Pettersson will need to get used to is playing in a Canadian market. While the Penguins have a passionate fan base and a strong media presence, there is additional pressure when playing in Canada, especially in Vancouver. For Pettersson, he is excited to be in a city that is this passionate about its hockey team and is ready for whatever challenges may be thrown his way.
"It's great. We had a pretty big media following in Pittsburgh, too, obviously, with Sid (Sidney Crosby) being there for a long time. Passionate fans and everything like that. But, yeah, Canadian markets, for sure, a different beast, so to say. The home games that I have gotten here have been awesome. You can see how invested the crowd is, and I feel like the whole community is rallying around the team. So it's great to see. I saw a lot of the games last year in the playoffs. You see the passion they bring. Then, the media side of it. I mean, it's a big following. Everything you do is kind of looked through an enhancement glass right away with a Canadian market, but it just comes with the business. I mean, you would rather have that than nobody following you at all. You feel the passion and the interest. I think it's good, and just got to learn how to handle it."
After nine games, it is clear why the Canucks signed Pettersson to a long-term deal. He has consistently shut down the opposition's top players and been a crucial part of the penalty kill. If Pettersson continues his strong play for the rest of the regular season, it will go a long way in helping Vancouver qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Capitals Forward T.J. Oshie Announces Retirement After 16 NHL Seasons
WASHINGTON — After 16 historic seasons in the NHL, Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie is hanging up the skates. Oshie announced his retirement from professional hockey on Monday in front of hundreds of fans gathered at the fountains at Washington Harbour in Georgetown, where he and his teammates swam after winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. Advertisement Fittingly, it was on this day seven years ago that he and his teammates pulled off that historic celebration. The 38-year-old did not play this past season amid ongoing complications with his back that have kept him off the ice. He had previously said he wouldn't return unless he found a permanent solution to his issues. His final NHL game was on April 28, 2024, a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 4 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oshie cemented his legacy as a "glue guy" and key member of the Capitals' core following his trade to D.C. on July 2, 2015. Over nine years with the Capitals, Oshie posted 192 goals and 193 assists for 385 points, the ninth-most in franchise history, and his 76 power-play goals are the fifth-most in franchise history. He put up 21 points in 24 games during the team's playoff run in 2018 to help lead Washington to its first and only Stanley Cup.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
New coach Lane Lambert says he expects to lead the Kraken to the playoffs
SEATTLE (AP) — Lane Lambert said he feels no pressure to turn the Seattle Kraken into a playoff contender. But his own expectation is to do exactly that. Lambert was introduced as the Kraken's coach on Monday at the team's practice facility. He was hired on May 29 after spending last season as an associate head coach with Toronto. The Maple Leafs won 52 games and the Atlantic Division title, but were eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals by Florida, which is currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final. He will become the third head coach in the history of the Kraken, who are entering their fifth season and have made the playoffs just once in their previous four. 'I have an expectation of myself and of my role and of my abilities,' the 60-year-old Lambert said. 'You start on Day 1 and it's a process, it's a journey. If you do the right things through that journey and do the right things every day and look to get better every day and stick with the process, the results will take care of themselves.' Lambert takes over for Dan Bylsma, who was fired on April 21 after one season. Seattle was well outside the playoff picture by the time of the February break for the 4 Nations Face-off and finished 35-41-6 (76 points). That was 20 points below the West's final wild-card spot and five fewer than the Kraken's 81 points in 2023-24. 'It became very evident that Lane presented the attributes we were looking for,' general manager Jason Botterill said. 'The combination of presence and knowledge to work with veteran players, and would also be dedicated to interact with young players.' Seattle ranked in the bottom third of the league on the power play (23rd), faceoff winning percentage (24th) and average shots per game (25th). It was 21st on the penalty kill, an area in which Lambert helped the Leafs improve from 23rd to fourth. 'There are priorities in certain areas, but everything has to be addressed,' Lambert said. 'You can't build Rome in a day, and that's the whole process from Day 1. You start with the process, start demanding, and you start instilling your systems, your structure, your details. But definitely, our special teams have to be better. We'll better in our defensive zone. I know we will be. So that would be the start and the focus.' Lambert has had NHL coaching jobs since 2011. His only head coaching experience came with the New York Islanders, beginning at the start of the 2022-23 season and ending when he was fired in January 2024. In his only full season, the Islanders made the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round. 'You go through an experience like that, you get let go, and you have a lot of time to reflect,' he said. 'If you don't have an ego, you can say, 'Gee, I'd do this differently or that differently. Or I'd do this or that the same.' There's certain little things I'll look at and look into changing.' He was an assistant with Nashville from 2011-14, then with Washington from 2014-18, with the Capitals winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. The Islanders hired him as associate head coach prior to 2018-19. The teams he has worked for have made the playoffs 10 times. Lambert inherits a roster that includes veterans Jaden Schwartz (a team-high 26 goals last season), Jared McCann (22 goals and a team-leading 61 points), Eeli Tolvanen (23 goals) and Chandler Stephenson (38 assists). The Kraken also have highly regarded young talent such as 2023 Rookie of the Year Matty Beniers (20 goals, 23 assists) and Shane Wright (19 goals, 25 assists). 'When you look at the team and the balance, we have great talent,' Lambert said. 'We have veteran players. The non-negotiables are that we have to play the right way — that's the formula.' ___
Fox Sports
5 hours ago
- Fox Sports
New coach Lane Lambert says he expects to lead the Kraken to the playoffs
Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Lane Lambert said he feels no pressure to turn the Seattle Kraken into a playoff contender. But his own expectation is to do exactly that. Lambert was introduced as the Kraken's coach on Monday at the team's practice facility. He was hired on May 29 after spending last season as an associate head coach with Toronto. The Maple Leafs won 52 games and the Atlantic Division title, but were eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals by Florida, which is currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final. He will become the third head coach in the history of the Kraken, who are entering their fifth season and have made the playoffs just once in their previous four. 'I have an expectation of myself and of my role and of my abilities,' the 60-year-old Lambert said. 'You start on Day 1 and it's a process, it's a journey. If you do the right things through that journey and do the right things every day and look to get better every day and stick with the process, the results will take care of themselves.' Lambert takes over for Dan Bylsma, who was fired on April 21 after one season. Seattle was well outside the playoff picture by the time of the February break for the 4 Nations Face-off and finished 35-41-6 (76 points). That was 20 points below the West's final wild-card spot and five fewer than the Kraken's 81 points in 2023-24. 'It became very evident that Lane presented the attributes we were looking for,' general manager Jason Botterill said. 'The combination of presence and knowledge to work with veteran players, and would also be dedicated to interact with young players.' Seattle ranked in the bottom third of the league on the power play (23rd), faceoff winning percentage (24th) and average shots per game (25th). It was 21st on the penalty kill, an area in which Lambert helped the Leafs improve from 23rd to fourth. 'There are priorities in certain areas, but everything has to be addressed,' Lambert said. 'You can't build Rome in a day, and that's the whole process from Day 1. You start with the process, start demanding, and you start instilling your systems, your structure, your details. But definitely, our special teams have to be better. We'll better in our defensive zone. I know we will be. So that would be the start and the focus.' Lambert has had NHL coaching jobs since 2011. His only head coaching experience came with the New York Islanders, beginning at the start of the 2022-23 season and ending when he was fired in January 2024. In his only full season, the Islanders made the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round. 'You go through an experience like that, you get let go, and you have a lot of time to reflect,' he said. 'If you don't have an ego, you can say, 'Gee, I'd do this differently or that differently. Or I'd do this or that the same.' There's certain little things I'll look at and look into changing.' He was an assistant with Nashville from 2011-14, then with Washington from 2014-18, with the Capitals winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. The Islanders hired him as associate head coach prior to 2018-19. The teams he has worked for have made the playoffs 10 times. Lambert inherits a roster that includes veterans Jaden Schwartz (a team-high 26 goals last season), Jared McCann (22 goals and a team-leading 61 points), Eeli Tolvanen (23 goals) and Chandler Stephenson (38 assists). The Kraken also have highly regarded young talent such as 2023 Rookie of the Year Matty Beniers (20 goals, 23 assists) and Shane Wright (19 goals, 25 assists). 'When you look at the team and the balance, we have great talent,' Lambert said. 'We have veteran players. The non-negotiables are that we have to play the right way — that's the formula.' ___ AP NHL: recommended
