Elias Pettersson receives heated backlash over recent comments.

It has been a tough year for Vancouver Canucks star forward Elias Pettersson, with Pettersson finding himself in a near season-long controversy that would eventually result in now former teammate J.T. Miller being traded to the New York Rangers.

Pettersson's production has fallen off of a cliff this season with Pettersson recording just 11 goals and 24 assists, a total of just 35 points in 51 games. The previous season saw him record 89 points over 82 games, and the one prior to that saw him record a whopping 102 points in just 80 games.

The Canucks had hoped that Pettersson would find his game again once Miller was traded to the Rangers, hoping that the highly publicized feud between the two players had been the primary source of Pettersson's struggles.

Unfortunately since returning from the Four Nations Face-Off break Pettersson has continued to struggle, recording just a single point, an assist, in his 2 games since the break and boasting a plus minus rating of -1 over those two contests. Making matters worse, Pettersson's mental fortitude was called into question by Canucks' head coach Rick Tocchet on Sunday after the Canucks suffered a defeat at the hands of the Utah Hockey Club.

"I think he's waiting for something. I don't know if it's a lack of confidence in his shot... I don't know if it's a mental block right now, all year, but he's got to move his feet," said Tocchet as per Canucks reporter Ian MacIntyre.

Even worse though has been the reaction to how Pettersson himself has reacted to his confidence being called into question. Following Tocchet's rant, Pettersson was asked whether or not his confidence had become an issue, with the Canucks star lashing out at reporters in response.

"It's more annoying dealing with the media," said Pettersson on Sunday.

As you might expect, the response to those comments has not been a favorable one for Pettersson.

One fan even warned about Pettersson potentially becoming the next Loui Eriksson, a rather harsh bit of criticism for those who remember Eriksson's troubled tenure in Vancouver.

Do you agree with Pettersson's comments? Or do they reflect poorly on the Canucks star? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.