Former Vancouver Canucks coach Chris Higgins questions Elias Pettersson NHL commitment during recent Vancouver radio appearance

The Vancouver Canucks are facing another round of criticism over star forward Elias Pettersson, following a recent Vancouver radio interview in which former NHL player and development coach Chris Higgins questioned his preparation habits. Some veteran players still have problems with consistency after playing in the league for a number of seasons, Higgins said.Pettersson remains one of the most talked-about names in the news circles of the NHL after another inconsistent campaign with the Vancouver Canucks. Higgins’ comments immediately created discussion among analysts and supporters, particularly concerning the leadership, standards of practice and the long-term outlook for the Swedish centre.Chris Higgins took a shot at Elias Pettersson’s readiness for the NHL, criticizing players who still struggle to shake habits years into their careers. After several NHL seasons, the former Vancouver Canucks development coach said preparation and practice intensity shouldn’t be an issue.“We're into year 4, 5, 6, 7 and we're still talking about preparation and your practice habits it's time to get rid of those guys,” Higgins said. Higgins didn’t direct every comment at Pettersson, but many listeners connected the dots to the Vancouver Canucks forward, who has been under the microscope for uneven performances.Some players, said the former NHL forward, don’t have the aggressive competitive mentality needed to consistently perform at the highest level. Higgins said the top NHL players often have what he calls “predator eyes”, a description of their competitive fire and obsession with getting better.Elias Pettersson has been under the microscope for the past few NHL seasons, but he remains one of the Vancouver Canucks’ most potent offensive weapons. Injuries, inconsistent scoring stretches and questions about leadership have continued to fuel NHL updates and NHL news roundup discussion around the Swedish star.Higgins was upbeat about the current management group of the Vancouver Canucks at the same time. The comments come as the franchise looks to improve its roster and remain competitive in the Western Conference during a crucial offseason for Vancouver.Although criticism continues around preparation and consistency, Elias Pettersson remains a crucial part of the Vancouver Canucks’ long-term NHL ambitions.