Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes were two very good players on a not-very-good Vancouver Canucks team this NHL season.

By combining for 46 goals and 180 points, Pettersson and Hughes showed what VancouverB次元官网网址檚 potential could be if management surrounds them with more talented players.

But by finishing the season 11th in the Western Conference with a 38-37-7 record for 83 points and missing the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons, the Canucks showed the reality of their current situation.

Despite the darkness of the concluded season, Pettersson and Hughes, the two brightest spots on the Vancouver roster, remain confident the Canucks are heading in the right direction under new coach Rick Tocchet.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely a little disappointing right now, but looking forward I think we should be excited going into next year,B次元官网网址� Hughes, a 23-year-old defenceman born in Orlando, Fla., said Saturday as the players cleaned out their lockers and held exit meetings with the coaching staff.

B次元官网网址淚 think everyone should be optimistic. We have a lot of good pieces here and things are moving in the right direction. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a difficult year for sure (but) weB次元官网网址檒l be a better team and a better group next year with what weB次元官网网址檝e dealt with this year.B次元官网网址�

Pettersson, the 24-year-old silky centre from Sundsvall, Sweden, had career highs with 39 goals and 63 assists for 102 points. He joins Pavel Bure, Alexander Mogilny, Markus Naslund, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin as the only Canucks to score 100 points in a season.

While his stats were eye-catching, Pettersson is most happy with how other parts of his game have improved. As heB次元官网网址檚 grown bigger and stronger, his defensive game has got better.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 super happy scoring a lot of points, but also super happy the way IB次元官网网址檝e been growing as a player, getting better two ways,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 always trying to understand and look what I can do better, trying to get better every day.B次元官网网址�

Hughes broke his own record for points in a season by a Canuck defenceman with 69 assists and seven goals in 78 games. HeB次元官网网址檚 followed a steady learning curve in his four years in the league.

B次元官网网址淎s a young defenceman, itB次元官网网址檚 really hard because you are trying to make plays, you have the puck on your stick a lot,B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e playing against really good lines.

B次元官网网址淢y second year I struggled defensively. A lot of guys go through that. As you continue to play in the league, you get more games, the more comfortable you feel. This year I took another step.B次元官网网址�

When Tocchet took over from the fired Bruce Boudreau on Jan. 22, he introduced a more structured system. The Canucks responded by going 20-12-4 down the stretch.

The team was also helped by the return of goaltender Thatcher Demko from injury.

The Canucks had a similar bounce last year when Boudreau replaced head coach Travis Green. With Boudreau, Vancouver went 32-15-10 to finish just five points out of the playoffs.

Pettersson believes Vancouver is building from a more solid foundation heading into next season.

B次元官网网址淭here was a lot of new faces this year,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ow we have played a season, weB次元官网网址檝e got to know everyone a little more. I like the direction we are headed. IB次元官网网址檓 excited for next year.B次元官网网址�

Pettersson, who is entering the final year of a three-year deal that will pay him over US$10 million next season, faces a decision. The Canucks can sign him to a contract extension this summer, or he could enter next season as a pending restricted free agent.

B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 thought too much about it to be honest,B次元官网网址� Pettersson said. B次元官网网址淚 like to live in the moment and just take it day by day.

B次元官网网址淚 like it here.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks face some other personnel decisions.

Centre J.T. Miller signed a seven-year, US$56-million contract extension that begins next season. Miller had 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) this season, down from his 99-point campaign in 2021-22. There is speculation the Canucks would be open to moving him to clear some salary cap room.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pretty satisfied with the seven-year deal,B次元官网网址� said Miller. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a big worry for me.B次元官网网址�

Brock Boeser has been the subject of trade rumours all year. The 26-year-old forward had 18 goals and 37 assists but seemed to disappear some nights.

B次元官网网址淭o be completely honest with you I donB次元官网网址檛 want to be traded,B次元官网网址� said Boeser, who signed a three-year deal worth US$6.65 million a season last summer.

B次元官网网址淚t was a tough year. I think itB次元官网网址檚 kind of a blessing in disguise that I didnB次元官网网址檛 get traded. I really thought I started finding my game after the trade deadline. I think Tocchet has been great, the whole coaching staff has been great.B次元官网网址�

Pettersson and Hughes are blocks the Canucks can build on moving forward. Both showed their character in the final third of the season when they continued to produce even when the teamB次元官网网址檚 playoff hopes had disappeared.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e competitive guys,B次元官网网址� said Hughes. B次元官网网址淲e want to try to be as good as we can. The last 20 games, itB次元官网网址檚 not easy to be playing when youB次元官网网址檙e not in the race.

B次元官网网址淢y motivation was trying to push myself and be as good as I can as a player. This summer I have a lot of ideas in my head on things I want to get better at. Hopefully that will continue to get me to be a better player next year.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擩im Morris, The Canadian Press

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