Canucks' Elias Pettersson Trade Prospects Get Tough Reality Check

The Canucks hoped that the 26-year-old star center would improve his game after former teammate J.T. Miller was traded to the New York Rangers following a season-long rift. 

That hasn't been the case, with Pettersson scoring just two points in the six games played since that trade.

Although not active and part of an NHL front office anymore, former general manager and current analyst Craig Button echoed those concerns, calling out Pettersson’s lack of impact appearing on the "Donnie & Dhali" show on Tuesday.

"You're paying $11.6 million, and I will say this to anybody that wants to go, 'Okay, you want to look at the metrics,' and make excuses for that guy," Button said. "Good. Make excuses for a guy being paid $11.6 million that's being asked to do everything and to be a difference maker. 

"He's not doing everything, and he's not a difference maker. That's a big problem."

Pettersson’s struggles extend beyond the NHL, as he went pointless in three games with Sweden through the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Canucks (26-20-11) are sitting third in the Western Conference wild-card race with 63 points, trailing the Calgary Flames by one point for the second spot giving access to the playoffs.