Elias Pettersson (ice hockey, born 2004) explained

Elias Pettersson
Birth Date:16 February 2004
Birth Place:Västerås, Sweden
Height Cm:188
Weight Kg:85
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Vancouver Canucks
Prospect Team:Abbotsford Canucks
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Örebro HK
Draft:80th overall
Draft Year:2022
Draft Team:Vancouver Canucks
Career Start:2022

Elias Nils Pettersson (born February 16, 2004) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman playing for the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Pettersson was selected 80th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by Canucks, and he signed a three-year contract in April 2023.

Playing career

In the 2020–21 season, Pettersson played for the junior team of Örebro HK, scoring seven points in 43 regular season games.[1] He had low playing time, averaging 9:39 per game.[2]

In the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Pettersson was selected with the 80th overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks, who had previously drafted the forward sharing his name in 2017. On April 20, 2023, Pettersson was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks.[3] The Canucks planned for Pettersson to continue playing in Sweden for the 2023–24 season, allowing his NHL contract to begin in the 2024–25 season.

During the 2023–24 season, Örebro loaned him to HockeyAllsvenskan's Västerås, his hometown team.[4] [5] While the arranged deal allowed Pettersson to play for either Örebro or Västerås, Örebro's sporting director Niklas Eriksson said the intention was for Pettersson to remain at Västerås. Eriksson also said the team consulted the Canucks while arranging the move.[6] Pettersson said that he would have preferred staying at Örebro but that he appreciated increased play opportunities at Vasterås.[7] In November, he was injured with a concussion, missing several Västerås games but playing in a match for the junior national team.[8] [9] In January 2024, the Canucks stated that Pettersson would visit North America after the Allsvenskan season concluded. Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said that he planned for Pettersson to play for the Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[10]

His style of play has been characterized as strong and physical.[11] [12] [13]

International play

In 2023, Pettersson played for Sweden at the World Junior Championship. He again represented Sweden at the 2024 World Juniors, winning a silver medal.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2021–22Örebro HKJ181 0 1 1 03 0 2 2 2
2021–22Örebro HKJ2037 10 8 18 386 2 8 10 4
2021–22Örebro HKSHL17 0 1 1 0
2022–23Örebro HKJ2014 5 10 15 102 0 0 0 0
2022–23Örebro HKSHL43 1 6 7 613 0 0 0 0
2023–24Örebro HKJ204 0 7 7 0
2023–24Örebro HKSHL4 0 0 0 0
2023–24Västerås IKAllsv34 3 11 14 8
2023–24Abbotsford CanucksAHL8 0 2 2 61 0 0 0 2
SHL totals64 1 7 8 613 0 0 0 0

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021SwedenHG185 1 1 2 8
2022Sweden U186 0 0 0 2
2023SwedenWJC4th7 0 3 3 6
2024SwedenWJC7 0 2 2 0
Junior totals2516716

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-04-19 . Canucks sign defenceman Elias Pettersson to three year, entry-level contract . 2024-01-06 . The Canadian Press.
  2. Web site: Wagner . Daniel . 2023-04-19 . Canucks sign Elias Pettersson — no, the other one — to an entry-level contract . 2024-01-14 . Vancouver Is Awesome.
  3. Web site: 2023-04-20 . Canucks sign defenceman Elias Pettersson to a three-year, entry-level contract . 2023-04-20 . Vancouver Canucks.
  4. Web site: Faber . Chris . 2023-12-24 . Building Blue: Elias Pettersson Ready to be a Trusted Defender at his Second World Junior Championships . 2024-01-06 . Vancouver Canucks.
  5. Web site: Eld . Simon . 2023-10-03 . "Det är där jag vill spela och ska vara" . 2024-01-06 . Hockeysverige . sv.
  6. Web site: Eld . Simon . 2023-10-02 . Elias Pettersson återvänder till Västerås - på lån . 2024-01-06 . Hockeysverige.
  7. Web site: 2023-12-28 . JVM-profilen om sitt stjärnnamn: "En rolig grej" . 2024-01-06 . . sv . TT News Agency.
  8. Web site: Jansson . Martin . 2023-11-22 . Västerås glädjebesked: Nyckelbacken tillbaka i spel . 2024-01-06 . Hockeysverige . sv.
  9. Web site: Kågström . Rasmus . 2023-11-14 . JVM-aktuelle backen drabbad av hjärnskakning . 2024-01-06 . Hockeysverige . sv.
  10. Web site: Faber . Chris . 2024-01-11 . GM Patrik Allvin on World Juniors and Lekkerimäki, D-Petey coming to Abbotsford Canucks . 2024-01-14 . Vancouver Canucks.
  11. Web site: Wagner . Daniel . 2024-01-02 . Canucks prospects survive Swiss scare, slide into semifinals at World Juniors . 2024-01-06 . Vancouver Is Awesome.
  12. Web site: Kierszenblat . Adam . 2024-01-02 . Elias Pettersson Picks Up First Point As Sweden Defeats Switzerland In The Quarterfinals At The 2024 World Juniors . 2024-01-06 . The Hockey News.
  13. News: Raptis . Mike . 2023-12-28 . Canucks prospects at the World Juniors: Elias Pettersson promoted in win over Germany . 2024-01-13 . The Province.