Elias Pettersson

Elias Fredrik Pettersson (born 12 November 1998) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Pettersson was selected fifth overall by the Canucks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He was born in Sundsvall, Sweden, but grew up in Ånge, Sweden.[1] After one of the greatest U20 seasons in SHL history in 2017–18[2] and winning the Le Mat Trophy with the Växjö Lakers, Pettersson made the Canucks opening night roster for the 2018–19 season.[3] He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie in 2019, becoming the second Canuck to do so after Pavel Bure in 1992.

Elias Pettersson
Born	(1998-11-12) 12 November 1998 Sundsvall, Sweden
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Vancouver Canucks Växjö Lakers
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	5th overall, 2017 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	2015–present

Playing career

Sweden

Pettersson played hockey as a youth and made his professional debut with Timrå IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan. In his second season in Allsvenskan in 2016–17, Pettersson placed second on the team in scoring with 41 points in 43 games. Unable to help Timrå IK gain promotion, Pettersson signed a three-year contract with the Växjö Lakers of the top tier SHL, on 6 April 2017.[4]

Pettersson selected by the Canucks at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Pettersson was ranked second among European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau in his first year of eligibility for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[5] He was selected as the first Swedish player taken in the draft, fifth overall, by the Vancouver Canucks, joining former linemate and Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlén on 23 June 2017.[6] It was speculated the Canucks drafted Pettersson based partly on highly successful chemistry with Dahlén on the top line for Timrå IK, where they finished fifth and ninth in league scoring as teenagers.[7][8] The two scored on the first shift they ever played together in Sweden.[9]

While still a junior player, Pettersson dominated the Swedish Hockey League in his 2017–18 rookie season. In 44 games played, he led the league in both points scored and in +/- at the end of the regular season, with 56 points (1.27 average) and +27 respectively. He also scored 24 goals, second in the league behind Frölunda's Victor Olofsson.[10] In the penultimate game of the 2017–18 season, Pettersson recorded four points to reach 55 points for the season.[11] In the season finale, Pettersson scored a goal to set a new record 56 for most points by a junior in a single SHL/Elitserien season, previously held by Kent Nilsson (set in 1975–76).[12]

Pettersson went on to lead the playoffs in both goal-scoring, points, and +/-, with 10 goals, 19 points (1.46 average) and +17 respectively, in 13 games played. Scoring four game-winning goals, he led Växjö Lakers to the team's second Le Mat Trophy.[13] Counting both the regular season and the playoffs, Pettersson scored 34 goals and 41 assists, for a total of 75 points in 57 games played (1.32 average). In April 2018, Pettersson was awarded the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy, as the SHL playoffs' MVP, by SICO (Sweden's Ice hockey players Central Organisation). All 14 jury members voted unanimously for Pettersson, a first in the award's nine year history.[14] At the SHL Awards, Pettersson was named Rookie of the Year, and Forward of the Year.[15]

NHL

Vancouver Canucks

On 25 May 2018, the Canucks signed Pettersson to a three-year entry-level contract.[16] On 3 October 2018, Pettersson made his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames. Pettersson scored his first career goal against goaltender Mike Smith, and also recorded an assist in a 5–2 Canucks win.[17] On 13 October 2018, during a game against the Florida Panthers, Pettersson suffered a head injury on a hit from Panthers defenceman Mike Matheson resulting in Pettersson leaving the game. Although Matheson was not penalized for the hit, the NHL Department of Player Safety believed that Matheson had an intent to injure, resulting in him being suspended two games and fined $52,419.36.[18] Pettersson returned to the lineup on 27 October after missing six games; the Canucks lost 5–0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.[19] Two nights later, Pettersson scored two goals in a 5–2 win over the Minnesota Wild.[20] On 1 November, Pettersson was named the October Rookie of the Month,[21] and four days later was the Second Star of the Week.[22] In December, he was named First Star of the Week on 10 December[23] and after recording 17 points in 14 games during the month, he was again named Rookie of the Month.[24] On 2 January 2019, Pettersson was named to his first NHL All-Star Game as the Canucks' lone representative.[25] He notched his first NHL hat trick later that night in a 4–3 win over the Ottawa Senators, striking in the second and third periods before scoring the game-winning goal in overtime.[26] Pettersson suffered a knee injury a night later when fellow rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi appeared to hook him away from the play. Petterson went down clutching his right knee and play had to be halted by the referees but he was able to skate off under his own power.[27] In his first game back from injury on 21 January 2019, Pettersson scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 3–2 win against the Detroit Red Wings.[28] On 18 March, Pettersson earned an assist in a 3–2 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks for his 61st point, surpassing the Canucks franchise record for points by a rookie which was previously held by Pavel Bure and Ivan Hlinka.[29] In his rookie season, Pettersson totaled 28 goals and 38 assists, giving him 66 points in 71 games. After the season, Pettersson was named as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy,[30] an award he ultimately won at the 2019 NHL Awards in Las Vegas on 19 June 2019, becoming the second Canuck to do so after Pavel Bure.[31]

Early in the 2019–20 season, Pettersson and Brock Boeser formed instant chemistry with off-season acquisition J. T. Miller.[32][33] On 4 November 2019, Pettersson was named First Star of the Week after totaling 9 points over four games.[34]

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Sweden
World Championships
	2018 Denmark
World Junior Championships
	2018 Buffalo

Pettersson competed for Sweden in the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, winning silver. He won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.[35]

On 9 May 2019, Pettersson was included to the roster to return for a second successive tournament with Sweden at the 2019 World Championships held in Bratislava, Slovakia.[36]

Personal life

Pettersson's older brother, Emil, is currently playing for the Växjö Lakers.[37] Both brothers have played for Timrå IK and the Växjö Lakers.

Growing up, his father was the Zamboni driver at the local rink, and because of this, Pettersson received lots of extra practice time.[38]

Pettersson is of Finnish descent through his paternal grandfather, born Toivo Jokelainen, who was sent to Sweden in 1941 as a Finnish war child.[39]

On 7 August 2019, Pettersson was named the cover athlete for the Swedish edition of EA Sports' ice hockey video game NHL 20.[40]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014–15	Timrå IK[41]	J18		40	31	34	65	8		8	5	9	14	4
2014–15	Timrå IK	J20		6	4	9	13	2		1	1	1	2	0
2015–16	Timrå IK	J20		22	6	8	14	20		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Timrå IK	Allsv		25	3	6	9	0		5	0	4	4	2
2016–17	Timrå IK	Allsv		43	19	21	40	14		3	2	4	6	0
2016–17	Timrå IK	J20		—	—	—	—	—		2	0	1	1	2
2017–18	Växjö Lakers	SHL		44	24	32	56	14		13	10	9	19	4
2018–19	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		71	28	38	66	12		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		68	27	39	66	18
SHL totals				44	24	32	56	14		13	10	9	19	4
NHL totals				139	55	77	132	30		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2015	Sweden	IH18			5	0	0	0	0
2016	Sweden	WJC18			7	1	7	8	4
2017	Sweden	WJC	4th		6	0	1	1	0
2018	Sweden	WJC			7	5	2	7	0
2018	Sweden	WC			5	1	2	3	0
2019	Sweden	WC	5th		8	3	7	10	2
Junior totals					25	6	10	16	4
Senior totals					13	4	9	13	2

Awards and honours

Award	Year
SHL
Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy	2018	[14]
Rookie of the Year	2018	[15]
Le Mat Trophy	2018	[13]
NHL
Rookie of the Month	October 2018 December 2018	[21] [24]
NHL All-Star	2019, 2020	[25]
Calder Memorial Trophy	2019	[42]
All-Rookie Team	2019	[43]

References

1. "Elias Pettersson's NHL Draft Profile". National Hockey League. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
2. "Elias Pettersson named SHL Rookie of the Year, Best Forward, and MVP". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
3. "Canucks feeling 'optimistic' as post-Sedin era begins - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
4. "Young talent ready for Vaxjo Lakers" (in Swedish). Växjö Lakers. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
5. "2017 Draft Prospect Rankings". NHL.com. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
6. "Canucks take Elias Pettersson with fifth overall pick". The Province. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
7. Burke, JD. "Benning: "Dahlen played a part" in Drafting Elias Pettersson". Canucks Army. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
8. Wanger, Daniel. "Are Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen twins, separated-at-birth?". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
9. MacIntyre, Iain. "Pettersson-Dahlen could be dream connection for future Canucks". Sportsnet. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
10. "Player Statistics 2017–18 SHL Regular Season" (in Swedish). Swedish Hockey League. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
11. "Dubbla rekord i Vida Arena" (in Swedish). Swedish Hockey League. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
12. "Växjö spelade ut – avslutade serien med ännu en seger" (in Swedish). Swedish Hockey League. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
13. "Lakers dominant in SHL title win". eurohockeyclubs.com. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
14. "Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy SHL-playoffs 2018 is awarded..." (in Swedish). SICO (Sweden's Ice hockey players Central Organisation). 22 April 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
15. Staff, Courier. "Elias Pettersson named SHL Rookie of the Year, Best Forward, and MVP". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
16. "Canucks Sign Pettersson". NHL.com. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
17. Wharnsby, Tim. "Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson steals the show on opening night". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
18. "Matheson suspended two games for actions in Panthers game". NHL.com. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
19. Woodley, Kevin. "DeSmith, Penguins shut out Canucks, finish Canada trip 4-0-0". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
20. Kuzma, Ben. "Canucks 5 Wild 2: Prized rookie Pettersson shoots, scores, even blocks shots". The Province. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
21. "Pettersson named NHL Rookie of the Month for October" (Press Release). NHL.com. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
22. "Monahan leads 3 Stars of the Week". NHL.com. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
23. "Pettersson leads 3 Stars of the Week". NHL.com. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
24. "Pettersson named NHL Rookie of the Month for December". NHL.com. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
25. "Pettersson selected to 2019 NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
26. "Pettersson's 1st career hat trick seals Canucks' OT win over Sens". CBC. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
27. Williams, Rob (3 January 2019). "Canucks' Elias Pettersson leaves game with leg injury". dailyhive.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
28. "Pettersson returns to help Canucks clip Red Wings". cbc.ca. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
29. "Pettersson passes Bure for Canucks record". tsn.ca. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
30. "Calder Trophy finalists unveiled". NHL.com. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
31. "Pettersson only scratched surface for Canucks in Calder Trophy season". NHL.com. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
32. "Veteran J.T. Miller adds versatility to Canucks' slick young roster". cbc.ca. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
33. "Truth By Numbers: How Pettersson-Miller connection is transforming Canucks". sportsnet.ca. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
34. "Pettersson leads 3 Stars of the Week". NHL.com. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
35. "SHL Awards 2018" (in Swedish). Swedish Hockey League. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
36. "Sweden announces roster for 2019 World Championships" (in Swedish). swehockey.se. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
37. "Emil Petterrson player profile". Elite Prospects.
38. "Vancouver Canucks: Elias Pettersson doesn't have an attitude problem". The Canuck Way. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
39. Nieminen, Jouni (28 December 2018). "Elias - Neljäsosasuomalainen". NordicBet (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 March 2019.
40. "Elias Pettersson announced as NHL 20 cover athlete in Sweden". CANUCKSARMY. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
41. "Timrå IK J18". Elite Prospects. 2014–15. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
42. "Canucks' Pettersson wins Calder Trophy". The Sports Network. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
43. "NHL announces 2018-19 All-Rookie Team". National Hockey League. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Olli Juolevi	Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick 2017	Succeeded by Quinn Hughes
Preceded by Mathew Barzal	Winner of the Calder Trophy 2019	Succeeded by Incumbent