Elias Pettersson (ice hockey, born 2004)

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.

Elias Pettersson
Born (2004-02-16) February 16, 2004 (age 20)
Västerås, Sweden
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb; 13 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Vancouver Canucks
Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
Örebro HK
NHL draft 80th overall, 2022
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2022–present

Playing career

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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][3]

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.[4] 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.[2][3]

During the 2023–24 season, Örebro loaned him to HockeyAllsvenskan's Västerås, his hometown team.[5][6] 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.[7] Pettersson said that he would have preferred staying at Örebro but that he appreciated increased play opportunities at Vasterås.[5][6][3] 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

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Medal record
Representing   Sweden
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
  2024 Sweden
World U18 Championships
  2022 Germany

In 2023, Pettersson played for Sweden at the World Junior Championship.[5] He again represented Sweden at the 2024 World Juniors, winning a silver medal.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2021–22 Örebro HK J18 1 0 1 1 0 3 0 2 2 2
2021–22 Örebro HK J20 37 10 8 18 38 6 2 8 10 4
2021–22 Örebro HK SHL 17 0 1 1 0
2022–23 Örebro HK J20 14 5 10 15 10 2 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Örebro HK SHL 43 1 6 7 6 13 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Örebro HK J20 4 0 7 7 0
2023–24 Örebro HK SHL 4 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Västerås IK Allsv 34 3 11 14 8
2023–24 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 8 0 2 2 6 1 0 0 0 2
SHL totals 64 1 7 8 6 13 0 0 0 0

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2021 Sweden HG18   5 1 1 2 8
2022 Sweden U18   6 0 0 0 2
2023 Sweden WJC 4th 7 0 3 3 6
2024 Sweden WJC   7 0 2 2 0
Junior totals 25 1 6 7 16

References

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