Pettersson responds to harsh comments from Canucks GM.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin sent shockwaves through the Canucks locker room, and the Canucks' fan base for that matter, when he sat down for an interview last week in which he clearly expressed his frustration at the ongoing internal conflicts in that very same locker room.

Allvin made it clear at the time that he and the Canucks organization were prepared to take drastic measures to resolve the issues in question and was especially hard on star forward Elias Pettersson with some of his comments. Allvin made it clear that, in spite of the fact that Pettersson has already signed a major contract worth upwards of $90 million with the Canucks, in his opinion Pettersson still hasn't truly proven himself at the National Hockey League level.

"You haven’t really accomplished anything," said Allvin of Pettersson during the interview.

On Sunday, ahead of a potential return from injury during a Monday night game against the Montreal Canadiens, Pettersson got the chance to respond to some of that criticism from Allvin and to his credit he took it on the chin and admitted that there was indeed room for improvement.

"I know I can do better," admitted Pettersson as per Ian MacIntyre. "I will be the first one to say it, and I never think things will get easier."

Pettersson also acknowledged that this season hasn't gone the way that he would have liked but did so while adding that he is shutting out any noise coming from outside of the organization.

"I haven't had the start (to the season) that I wanted to," admitted the Canucks star forward. "At the end of the day, I have expectations from the club, and obviously, I haven't met them yet. But, I mean, it doesn't matter what people say. I know what I can do, and that's what I'm focussing on doing."

Pettersson is a game time decision for tonight's game against the Habs and if he is indeed cleared to play all eyes will once again be on both him and teammate J.T. Miller as drama and trade speculation continue to swirl around the two embattled teammates.