Elias Pettersson (ice hockey, born 2004)

For the forward, see Elias Pettersson.

Elias Pettersson
Born (2004-02-16) 16 February 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

Elias Nils Pettersson (born 16 February 2004) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to 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][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.[4] On 20 April 2023, Pettersson was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks.[5] 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.[6][7] 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.[8] Pettersson said that he would have preferred staying at Örebro but that he appreciated increased play opportunities at Vasterås.[6][7][3] In November, he was injured with a concussion, missing several Västerås games but playing in a match for the junior national team.[9][10] 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.[11] Pettersson joined the Abbotsford Canucks on 13 March, and finished the season with two assists in eight games.[12]

Pettersson returned to Abbotsford to begin the 2024–25 season[13] and was named an AHL All-Star.[14] However, he did not participate in the All-Star game due to his call-up with Vancouver.[15] Pettersson made his NHL debut on 25 January 2025, in a game where he was a teammate with Elias Pettersson, a forward.[16][17] He recorded his first career assist and point on 2 February 2025.[18]

His style of play has been characterized as strong and physical.[19][20][21]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2024 Sweden
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Germany

In 2023, Pettersson played for Sweden junior team at the 2023 World Junior Championships.[6] He again represented Sweden at the 2024 World Juniors, winning a silver medal.[22]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

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

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2021 Sweden HG18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 1 1 2 8
2022 Sweden U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 0 0 0 2
2023 Sweden WJC 4th 7 0 3 3 6
2024 Sweden WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 0 2 2 0
Junior totals 25 1 6 7 16

References

  1. ^ "Canucks sign defenceman Elias Pettersson to three year, entry-level contract". The Canadian Press. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Wagner, Daniel (19 April 2023). "Canucks sign Elias Pettersson — no, the other one — to an entry-level contract". Vancouver Is Awesome. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "JVM-profilen om sitt stjärnnamn: "En rolig grej"". Hufvudstadsbladet (in Swedish). TT News Agency. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  4. ^ Farrell, Sean (8 July 2022). "Elias Pettersson selected again by Canucks, this time in 2022 NHL Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Canucks sign defenceman Elias Pettersson to a three-year, entry-level contract". Vancouver Canucks. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Faber, Chris (24 December 2023). "Building Blue: Elias Pettersson Ready to be a Trusted Defender at his Second World Junior Championships". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b Eld, Simon (3 October 2023). ""Det är där jag vill spela och ska vara"". Hockeysverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ Eld, Simon (2 October 2023). "Elias Pettersson återvänder till Västerås - på lån". Hockeysverige. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  9. ^ Jansson, Martin (22 November 2023). "Västerås glädjebesked: Nyckelbacken tillbaka i spel". Hockeysverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  10. ^ Kågström, Rasmus (14 November 2023). "JVM-aktuelle backen drabbad av hjärnskakning". Hockeysverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  11. ^ Faber, Chris (11 January 2024). "GM Patrik Allvin on World Juniors and Lekkerimäki, D-Petey coming to Abbotsford Canucks". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Canucks assign defenceman Elias Pettersson to AHL". Sportsnet. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Canucks assign Lekkerimaki, Pettersson and more to Abbotsford". Sportsnet. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  14. ^ "PETTERSSON TO REPRESENT CANUCKS AT 2025 AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". Abbotsford Canucks. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Building Blue: Ty Mueller Wants to Finish Rookie Season Strong after AHL All-Star Weekend". NHL. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  16. ^ Ewen, Steve (25 January 2025). "'We need that': Canucks debuting D-Petey, Tocchet loves his 'enthusiasm'". The Province. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  17. ^ Pankiw, Colton (25 January 2025). "Two guys named "Elias Pettersson" are playing for the Vancouver Canucks tonight". Daily Hive Vancouver. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  18. ^ "DeBrincat scores 2nd goal in OT, Red Wings top Canucks for 6th win in row". NHL. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  19. ^ Wagner, Daniel (2 January 2024). "Canucks prospects survive Swiss scare, slide into semifinals at World Juniors". Vancouver Is Awesome. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  20. ^ Kierszenblat, Adam (2 January 2024). "Elias Pettersson Picks Up First Point As Sweden Defeats Switzerland In The Quarterfinals At The 2024 World Juniors". The Hockey News. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  21. ^ Raptis, Mike (28 December 2023). "Canucks prospects at the World Juniors: Elias Pettersson promoted in win over Germany". The Province. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  22. ^ Kierszenblat, Adam (5 January 2024). "Jonathan Lekkerimäki Named MVP As Sweden Captures Silver At The 2024 World Juniors". The Hockey News. Retrieved 25 December 2024.