Pettersson brushes off slump: 'More annoying' to deal with media

Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson dismissed the possibility he's dealing with confidence issues as he struggles to produce since the club traded J.T. Miller.

"It's more annoying dealing with the media," Pettersson said of his scoring drought following Sunday's loss to Utah, per Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre.

Pettersson's notched two assists and only four shots on goal in six games since the Canucks moved Miller to the New York Rangers. The trade was expected to help spark Pettersson after months of drama surrounding a locker room issue between him and Miller, but it appears to have had the opposite effect so far.

Vancouver's highest-paid player said after the trade he welcomes the added pressure of being the one the Canucks decided to keep. Pettersson's name was heavily involved in trade rumors throughout the saga as well.

Head coach Rick Tocchet thinks Pettersson is waiting too long to make decisions on the ice.

"We've talked about he has to move his feet and can't double clutch (with the puck)," Tocchet said. "I think he's waiting for something. I don't know if it's a lack of confidence in his shot, but as soon as he has room, he's got to take it and ... just got to blast it. I'd rather him just rip a puck right now. He's not moving his feet. I thought today, some shifts, he was moving his feet, and it looked like we had some glimpses."

"I don't know if it's a mental block right now, all year, but he's got to move his feet."

Pettersson's in the first campaign of an eight-year contract worth $11.6 million annually. He has 35 points in 51 games this season, well below the pace of the 102- and 89-point campaigns he produced the prior two years.