Vancouver Canucks star forward Elias Pettersson says he鈥檚 stronger and heavier after a summer of intense conditioning and he won鈥檛 let his contract status be a 鈥渄istraction.鈥�
The Swedish sniper, who notched 39 goals and 102 points last season, is in the final year of his three-year, $22-million contract and will become a restricted free agent next year if he doesn鈥檛 sign an extension with the Canucks.
Pettersson, 24, said Thursday he wants to focus on the coming hockey season as the Canucks opened training camp in Victoria.
He skated on a line with wingers Andrei Kuzmenko and Nils Hoglander.
鈥淚鈥檝e always tried to work my hardest,鈥� he said following the team鈥檚 first on-ice session. 鈥淚鈥檓 always trying to get better. This summer I had a little more time to train.鈥�
Pettersson said he鈥檚 happy to be in Vancouver now and will focus on the coming season, adding it could be the media that turns his contract situation into a distraction.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a distraction. You guys make it a distraction,鈥� Pettersson told reporters. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy now, but I just want to focus on the season.鈥�
Pettersson鈥檚 contract situation will likely be on his mind at times during the season, but hockey will be his primary focus, said teammate J.T. Miller.
鈥淚f you can just let him play hockey that would be great,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a pretty good player. He鈥檚 trained all summer. He鈥檚 in really good shape again. I don鈥檛 think he鈥檚 worried about it. He鈥檚 just really focused right now.鈥�
Miller, 30, who scored 32 goals and 50 assists last season, said the Canucks are looking to start the season on a winning note after hitting a losing skid in the first weeks of last year.
鈥淭he boys are ready,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e itching. It鈥檚 a fresh start. We know what to expect now. It seems like a fresh everything.鈥�
Miller said the opening day of training camp focused on defensive and offensive systems, which will help the players immediately understand their roles.
The Canucks missed the playoffs last season, finishing in sixth place in the Pacific Division with 83 points.
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said he wanted stress defensive zone play and five-on-five situations right from the outset.
鈥淚 liked the effort,鈥� he said.
But one day at training camp doesn鈥檛 make the season, said Tocchet.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to have one good day,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou play a great game, but I guess the next level here is can we be consistent, can the guys come out tomorrow and practise hard again. That鈥檚 really the message in camp.鈥�
Pettersson said he was pleased defenceman Quinn Hughes was named team captain.
鈥淔antastic,鈥� said Pettersson, who will be an alternate captain. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 been taking steps every year. Obviously, this is a big step for him, but I think he鈥檚 more than ready.鈥�
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