Elias Pettersson

**Elias Pettersson** (born Elias Frederik Petterson on November 12, 1998 in Sundsvall, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL.

Pettersson was drafted 5th overall by Vancouver in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing Career

### Early Playing Career

Elias 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, he placed second on the team in scoring with 41 points in 43 games. Unable to help Timrå IK gain promotion, he signed a three-year contract with the Växjö Lakers of the top tier SHL, on 6 April 2017.

Elias was ranked second among European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau in his first year of eligibility for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. 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 Dahlen on 23 June 2017.

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. The two scored on the first shift they ever played together in Sweden.

While still a junior player, Elias 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.

In the penultimate game of the 2017–18 season, Elias recorded four points to reach 55 points for the season. In the season finale, he 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).

He 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.

Counting both the regular season and the playoffs, he scored 34 goals and 41 assists, for a total of 75 points in 57 games played (1.32 average). In April 2018, he 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 Elias, a first in the award's nine year history. At the SHL Awards, he was named Rookie of the Year and Forward of the Year.

### Professional

On 25 May 2018, the Canucks signed Elias to a three-year entry-level contract. On 3 October 2018, he made his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames. He scored his first career goal against goaltender Mike Smith; he also recorded an assist in a 5–2 Canucks win.

On 13 October 2018, during a game against the Florida Panthers, Elias suffered a head injury on a hit from Panthers defenceman Mike Matheson resulting in him 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.

He returned to the lineup on 27 October after missing six games; the Canucks lost 5–0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Two nights later, he scored two goals in a 5–2 win over the Minnesota Wild.

On 1 November, Pettersson was named the October Rookie of the Month; four days later, he was named the Second Star of the Week. In December, he was named First Star of the Week on 10 December. After recording 17 points in 14 games during the month, he was again named Rookie of the Month.

On 2 January 2019, Elias was named to his first NHL All-Star Game as the Canucks' lone representative. 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.

He suffered a knee injury a night later when fellow rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi appeared to hook him away from the play. He 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.

During his first game back from injury on 21 January 2019, he scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 3–2 win against the Detroit Red Wings.

On 18 March, Elias 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. In his rookie season, he totaled 28 goals and 38 assists, giving him 66 points in 71 games.

After the season, he was named as a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, 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.

Early in the 2019–20 season, Elias and Brock Boeser formed instant chemistry with off-season acquisition J.T. Miller. On 4 November 2019, he was named the NHL "First Star of the Week" after totaling 9 points over four games.

## International Play

Elias 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.

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

## Personal Life

Elias is of Finnish descent; his grandfather was sent to Sweden in 1941 as a Finnish war child. His older brother, Emil currently plays for the Vaxjo Lakers; both brothers would play for Timra IK and the Vasko Lakers.

Growing up, his father was the Zamboni driver at the local rink; because of this, he received lots of extra practice time.

In August of 2019, Elias was named the cover athlete for the Swedish edition of EA Sports' ice hockey video game, "NHL 20."