The Petey Predicament

[donlever]

EP40 caught in the Buble v Seravalli cross fire.

Screenshot_20251202-122152_Instagram.jpg (212.22 KiB) Viewed 478 times

[Carl Yagro]

EP40 caught in the Buble v Seravalli cross fire.

Fortunately, he's good at hitting the deck.

[Tciso]

EP40 caught in the Buble v Seravalli cross fire.

Screenshot_20251202-122152_Instagram.jpg

Finally, the big S does some research bofore opening his yap. But, Seravalli is still a tool.

[donlever]

EP40 caught in the Buble v Seravalli cross fire.

Fortunately, he's good at hitting the deck.

No.you didn't.

[Lancer]

Brent Krahn... 9th overall pick by Calgary who got one cup of coffee in the bigs - in Dallas.

Never heard the guy. Surely an authoritative voice on pro hockey. Must be on for the hockey player-cred and locker-room calibre entertainment.

Then again, Frankie Corrado still shills for the leaves every now and again.

As to UWSaint's comment about Petey changing his game, I think there's something there. Nobody knows Petey's injury history, but I suspect his wrists aren't in the same shape they were in Petey's first year or two; neither are his knees, I wager. Maybe he's had to re-jig his body mechanics to maximize what his body can do now vice 2-3 years ago.

Regardless, Petey's performance of late has made plain how talent-thin the forwards are - especially play-driving forwards. Boeser and DeBrusk are talented, but they're finishers vice drivers. It would be easier if Petey sucked as much as the rest because the assumption could be that, well, everyone sucks and it could be just a matter of coaching or something. Petey's performance just makes the hole at 2C more painfully apparent.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Not sure how Pettersson is a third line centre. Considering he plays with scrubs its a miracle he is pacing for 70 points. He's in the top 25 for centre scoring. Guentzel, W Smith and Necas are not centres.

He's a low end # 1 centre at this point. Get him a good linemate and a solid #2 behind him and he will be earning every penny.

I too don't give a shit how much money the players make. Its the cap hit that's inportant. There's front loaded contracts all over the league. It's the cost of doing business.

[Chef Boi RD]

This clip paints a very clear picture detailing what a real no. 1 centre looks like and what one doesn’t. All in one clip for your viewing pleasure

https://x.com/citchmook/status/1996046753481871774?s=20

[Cornuck]

https://x.com/citchmook/status/1996046753481871774?s=20

[donlever]

One thread response.

Ooof. What a perfect clip highlighting the difference in "hockey elite" (mackinnon) vs. "good at hockey"(ep40). complete with pettersen losing his balance in petterssonian fashion

Unfortunate.

[Ronning's Ghost]

It could also be a matter of tailoring his game to the fact he may have sustained injuries in the past (wrist/knee) which have left him unable to totally play the way he used to.

With some time to reflect on it, I find this narrative really makes sense to me.

I was always worried he was too physically frail. Quite early in his career, he sustains injuries from which he seems unable to recover. It's clear he won't be the player he might have been, or even was. (the Juolevi story?) He is near despair, and is on-ice demeanor appears sulky to fans.
[This is not a criticism ! My own attitude in that position would likely have been far worse!]

Then, some combination of coaches and trainers (gurus?) gives him a path to reinventing his game. He trains fiercely over the summer, puts on some muscle, and returns with a new commitment to defence. His renewed effort level is evident to all.

On a personal level, it's almost a "courage to come back award" level of achievement, and shows great character, perseverance, and professionalism. Unfortunately for Canucks fans, management (/ownership group) relied on him, and pays him, to be the player he might have been, and it looks like he no longer has that level of ability. He's 83rd in the League in scoring (42nd amongst centres), and a -8.

So he's... what ? A good second line centre, defensively responsible, but not an intimidating physical presence, nor a reliable iron man workhorse. Maybe he finds some synergy with some wingers who suit his abilities and manages to generate more offensive spark, but he will probably never be able to earn that contract.

I think that means for the Canucks to do the kind of quick pivot we might hope would tempt Hughes to stick around, Raty has to find more to give (I think it could be there), Cootes has to hit near the top of his projected ceiling quickly, and the Canucks have to find significant offensive talent in the next two drafts.

[Meds]

So he's... what ? A good second line centre, defensively responsible, but not an intimidating physical presence, nor a reliable iron man workhorse. Maybe he finds some synergy with some wingers who suit his abilities and manages to generate more offensive spark, but he will probably never be able to earn that contract.

If this is the case, the Canucks are totally boned for the duration of his contract. $11.6M for a 2nd line pivot is no recipe for success.

[rikster]

So he's... what ? A good second line centre, defensively responsible, but not an intimidating physical presence, nor a reliable iron man workhorse. Maybe he finds some synergy with some wingers who suit his abilities and manages to generate more offensive spark, but he will probably never be able to earn that contract.

If this is the case, the Canucks are totally boned for the duration of his contract. $11.6M for a 2nd line pivot is no recipe for success.

From what I've seen and read, the hockey world still considers EP as a #1 centre in the league, not sure many still consider him elite ...

If you think $12 million for a first line centre is an overpayment in a league with exploding revenues and franchise values in the multiple billions and expansion fees in the billions you are going to be very disappointed with future contracts...

Revenues are projected to be just under $7 Billion this year ...

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/A ... hatgpt.com

[Cornuck]

If you think $12 million for a first line centre is an overpayment in a league with exploding revenues and franchise values in the multiple billions and expansion fees in the billions you are going to be very disappointed with future contracts...

That's what I'm thinking - the Petey may not live up to the contract, but the contract will be less of a burden as time goes by. (all based on assumed rising cap levels)

[theman]

Assuming the cap keeps going up, F Petey’s contract will be okay.

[Lancer]

Either way, he's proven to not be the answer at 1C for this team to contend. This is likely the best we'll get from Petey moving forward. Someone comparable to RNH at over twice the cost, but hopefully the cap will rise to dull the pain some.

Time to get a new 1C. Highly unlikely that Cootes will be it.