Canucks D-man Marcus Pettersson says team culture is improving

Breadcrumb Trail Links

Marcus Pettersson says team culture with rebuilding Vancouver is trending in the right direction, reasoning that “we work hard every day and we have fun working hard every day.”

Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox Sign Up

Published Mar 19, 2026 • 3 minute read

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Marcus Pettersson (29) provides some pushback for the Vancouver Canucks against the Nashville Predators' Justin Barron (20) during the second period at Rogers Arena on Thursday night Marcus Pettersson, left, provides some pushback for the Vancouver Canucks against the Nashville Predators’ Justin Barron. Photo by Ethan Cairns /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content

Count defenceman Marcus Pettersson among those who think the Vancouver Canucks’ team culture is trending in the right direction.

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account

Article content

“It’s supposed to be a fun game — not so threatening,” he said.

Article content

Pettersson was speaking after Thursday’s morning skate at Rogers Arena, before the team’s matchup there that night with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canucks were coming off a strong showing Tuesday in a 5-2 win at home over the Florida Panthers.

“We just went through the trade deadline here. We’ve got a young team, and for a lot of guys it was the first time,” Pettersson, 29, continued. “We’ve said to ourselves that we’ll start building something here. It starts now. We don’t go around waiting. We work hard every day and we have fun working hard every day.

“That’s a big part — the work effort that we put in day in, day out.”

Pettersson landed with the Canucks a month before last season’s trade deadline, coming over in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pettersson’s teammates with the Penguins included the likes of Sidney Crosby (1,409 career games); Evgeni Malkin (1,261); Kris Letang (1,223); and Erik Karlsson (1,147).

Canucks Report

Thanks for signing up!

Article content

Advertisement 3

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Now that the Canucks have started to lean into a rebuild and look to the future, Petterson’s 589 career games have made him an old-guard rearguard here.

Pettersson and Filip Hronek, 27, have been anchoring Vancouver’s blue line contingent of late, alongside the quartet of 23-year-old Victor Mancini, 22-year-old Elias Pettersson, 21-year-old Tom Willander, and 20-year-old Zeev Buium. Those four had a combined 249 games of NHL service as of Thursday morning.

“I’ve been around great leadership,” Pettersson said of his time with the Penguins. “I just take what I can from that, but try not to overdo anything.

“I’m just trying to be myself. If I work as hard as I can and try to get better every day, I know it’s something the young guys can follow. I want to try to not overdo it and be something that I’m not. I need to show the work ethic and put my best foot forward. Hopefully we can build something from that.”

Consistency has been an issue with this Canuck group and that’s not all surprising considering the inexperience. Marcus Pettersson pointed to the fact that “our highs and our lows have been too great.”

Advertisement 4

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

“Teams are going to have momentum. We have to find ways to snap that momentum,” he said. “Maybe it’s making a couple of simple plays and keeping the puck in front of us. With our enthusiasm and our skating ability, we bring that we’re going to give ourselves the best chance.”

The Canucks added Marcus Pettersson and winger Drew O’Connor from the Penguins on Feb. 1, 2025, in exchange for winger Danton Heinen, defenceman Vincent Desharnais, forward prospect Melvin Fernstrom and a conditional 2025 first-round draft pick that Vancouver had received the day before from the New York Rangers in the trade that saw centre J.T. Miller head to New York.

That pick wound up being No. 12 overall, and Pittsburgh traded it away on draft day, sending it to the Philadelphia Flyers for picks Nos. 22 and 31. Philadelphia used the selection on centre Jack Nesbitt. The 6-foot-4, 189 pound Nestbitt has 21 goals and 54 points in 53 OHL games with the Windsor Spitfires this season.

Marcus Pettersson inked a six-year deal with an annual cap hit of US$5.5 million with Vancouver days after the trade with the Penguins.

SEwen@postmedia.com

x.com/@SteveEwen