Now the Swedish star elaborates on how he has tried to deal with the pressure after signing the eight-year contract.
"The best thing I've done is to delete social media", says the Vancouver forward.
If "Tre Kronor" (nickname for the Swedish national hockey team), is to go far in the Four Nations tournament, Elias Pettersson needs to live up to performances from past seasons before joining Vancouver, when he accounted for a total of 191 points over two seasons.
In the end of March last year, Pettersson signed a giant contract worth $92.8 million over eight years. However, this season Pettersson has been far from his best and his strained relationship with team colleague J.T. Miller led to the American forward being traded to the New York Rangers by Swedish Genera Mananger, Patrik Allvin, as Vancouver tried to find a solution for the negative impact on the team.
When Elias Petterson met the Swedish media after the first training session with Tre Kronor before the tournament, he was the first to admit that the season so far has not been what he had hoped for:
"It hasn't been the best. A lot of noise in the media. But I'm just trying to control what I can". One thing he has chosen to do is to no longer be on social media.
"There has been been a lot of talk, you know what has been said but the best thing I've done is to delete social media. Then it is difficult to read anything", says Pettersson to Swedish media "Aftonbladet".
Pettersson also says that the expectations and pressure on him rose significantly after he signed his billion-dollar contract:
"Yes, but it was bound to happen. I have now received a contract that I am very happy with. But having said that, the media now pushes for results. I myself do not think that I have lived up to it fully. But what I've accomplished before is done and I'm just trying to see what's ahead. I know what kind of hockey I have in me."
Elias Pettersson proved his talent in the last game before the Four Nations tournament when Vancouver took their third straight win when they defeated Toronto among other things thanks a great assist from the Swedish star.
"A strong win from us and I am very satisfied with my performance in the match. I want to build on that", says Elias Pettersson.
Tre Kronor starts the Four Nation on Thursday night with the clash against Canada.