It sounds like Elias Pettersson had a really good summer.
The Vancouver Canucks star got married during the offseason, he confirmed on Monday, tying the knot with American model and influencer Katelyn Byrd.
“I did get married, yeah,” Pettersson told reporters at the Jake Milford Charity Golf Tournament at Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey on Monday.
“It was the highlight [of my offseason]. Best day of my life.”
Pettersson had a good summer in the gym, too.
The 6-foot-2 centre has bulked up.
“I added six kilos (13.2 pounds) of weight,” Pettersson revealed. “I just tried to add some muscle. Be ready to be myself again out there, and I feel confident that I will.”
“I feel good. I had a long summer of training.”
From 161 lbs on draft day to 190 today.
It took 8 years, but Elias Pettersson finally has the strength to match his skill.
Perfect timing for a revenge tour.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) September 8, 2025
Pettersson was officially listed at 176 pounds last season, meaning he likely weighs around 190 pounds now. That’s nearly 30 pounds heavier than when he was drafted in 2017.
It’s no secret that the 26-year-old is coming off the most difficult season of his career, scoring just 45 points (15-30-45) in 64 games. His season appeared to get derailed before it began, as Canucks management was reportedly unhappy with his conditioning in training camp. Then he struggled out of the gate, and the feud with J.T. Miller reached a fever pitch not long after.
“Nothing was holding me back this summer as in what we wanted to do in training.”
🗣️ Hear from Elias Pettersson as he shares the highlights of his summer and the excitement going into this upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/50ga6qaR30
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 8, 2025
“That’s in the past,” Pettersson said of the disappointment of the team at large last season. “We can all learn from it. I’m just looking forward, excited for this year.”
Pettersson dealt with knee tendinitis last summer, but he confirmed on Monday that nothing was holding him back this time.
That’s a good sign, because if the Canucks are going to reach their potential this season, Pettersson will need to be a big reason why. The team looks stacked on defence and in goal, provided Thatcher Demko can stay healthy. They have depth on the wing.
But they’re thin at centre, making Pettersson’s return to form more important than ever. Can he return to the level that saw him score 102 points two years ago?
“We’re gonna try to prepare to be the best team we can be. I know what we’re capable of. I believe fully that we can do good things.”