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Rick Tocchet's initial concerns about a revamped roster that looks good on paper but has often been poor on the ice it's about everyone and not just someone.

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The Vancouver Canucks head coach needs more than just offensive zone time. He strives for a net presence, more of a muscle memory mentality to shoot and convert instinctively. And defensive zone awareness can't just be a part-time thing as the club embarks on a tough four-game road trip that begins Tuesday at Tampa Bay.

That brings us to Elias Pettersson. The slick Swedish center knows that constant scrutiny in a hockey-crazed market comes with heightened expectations. Especially after he finally reached a mammoth eight-year contract extension on March 2 and his $11.6 million salary cap hit goes into effect this season.

That's why Pettersson's miscues and a slow start in two games – a second assist and just two shots, despite logging 23:34 and then 19:24 in the season opener – have caught the attention of the bench boss.

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Tocchet wants to see a higher level of competition in 3-on-3 drills to translate to game conditions. He wants the confidence to match the skills because the elements are a crucial and deadly combination. And that's why Pettersson had a long day of training at UBC on Saturday.

Pettersson, 25, was sidelined early and then stayed late after most of the players had left the ice and worked on combat drills.

“He came to us 20 minutes earlier with the twins (Henrik and Daniel Sedin) and (skills coach) Jason Krog and needs to work on certain parts of his game,” Tocchet said. “One of his better practices and there’s a reason for it. He will need this approach for a while and gain his confidence.

“We have a plan to improve his game.”

And that said something. For a gifted guy who has always prided himself on a complete game – he even received Selke Trophy votes last season, combining intelligent playmaking with a powerful one-time shot – this latest approach may bring him back to dominance.

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Ultimately, due to knee tendonitis that first appeared in January, Pettersson was down to just six goals in his final 30 games of the regular season and just one in his final 13 games. And in the playoffs he only scored one goal in 13 games.

However, he finished the game with 89 points (34-55) and showed outstanding talent in the preseason finale, a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on October 4.

As Jake DeBrusk advanced into the offensive zone and drew two defenders, time and space opened up for Pettersson, who sent Carson Soucy into scoring position with a deft anticipation shot.

“That’s a great game from Petey,” praised Tocchet. “Holding the puck, checking his shoulder and moving his feet opened him up. He didn't panic when he hit a backhand. This is a tough game.”

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It is just as important to make the right plays even without the puck. When Philadelphia Flyers winger Tyson Foerster pounced on a first-period power play on Friday, there was plenty of blame to go around.

“Pettersson was caught off guard,” Tocchet said. “He has to close the gap and be the wedge guy, and we misplayed the rush. In a 3-on-2 duel, the defense only needs to protect the bowels of the ice and allow the shot to travel to the outside. It's a tick-tock-toe and a few detail errors. We will correct it.”

Who will shoot the net in Tampa?

To his credit, Arturs Silovs confirmed his poor performance at the start of the season. He conceded six goals on 26 shots, but it was the difficulty tracking pucks from distance that required attention.

The trickle-down effect will not line up properly on these long bombs, especially when there is traffic in the slot and the head needs to be on a swivel. It's important to make quick adjustments.

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“I mean, games like this happen,” Silovs said. “You know it’s a long season so you have to keep going.”

He could go against the Lightning or Tocchet could go ahead of Kevin Lankinen. The veteran backup stopper looked cool in a 3-2 shootout loss on Friday, finishing the game with 29 saves. The unrestricted free agent also signed one negotiate a one-year, $875,000 commitment to help the Canucks emerge from Thatcher Demko's injury crisis.

So, are you going on the hotter Lankinen on Tuesday?

“You can go this way,” Tocchet said. “I'm not convinced that a guy has a rough night and needs to sit it out for three or four games. But you also have to recognize when a man is playing well. There are some games coming up where we can use a goalie strategically, but I feel comfortable in Tampa with Arty or Lanks or in Florida.

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“Maybe they broke up. I don’t know yet.”

At best, the 29-year-old Lankinen is a competent backup player capable of more. He played 24 games for the Nashville Predators last season, compiling a credible 11-6-0 record, 2.82 goals against average and a .908 save percentage alongside workhorse Juuse Saros. These are starter numbers.

However, replacing the 29-year-old Saros wouldn't work, not with his workbook and the eight-year, $61.92 million extension signed July 1 that begins through the 2025-26 season.

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