Prospect Info: Canucks select D Elias Pettersson , 3rd Round, 80th Overall, 2022

[MarkMM]

Nemec just isn't very good. He's really struggling defensively and doesn't really look like a big point producer either. If I had to guess he projects as a 4-5 puck-moving D at this point. Was drafted way too high. No standout traits really at either end of the rink, not really a great skater either. Soft.

Jiricek is a worse version of EP2 at this point. Might have a bit more skill (although I'm not even sure about that anymore) but his defensive IQ and physical play is not as strong.

I was a big fan of Korchinski in junior but his development has gone totally off the rails this year.

EP2 has been really, really f***ing good. He looks like a legit future top-pairing defender.



Lamoureaux and Bichsel are probably both at roughly EP2's level at this point as big D who are showing the sort of defensive chops to play #2-3 high-leverage minutes down the road. Hutson and Mintyukov are probably the two best D from that draft right now and then those guys would be 3-4-5.

Goes to show how much you really have to let drafts play out; we needed a good defenseman prospect and having BOTH Jiricek and Nemec in that draft had me thinking this was our chance, and then to lose out to both was painful. EP2 I was like, "I mean sounds good, for where he's drafted".

Now seeing how things have played out...still early, but wouldn't have imagined this even being a discussion.

 

[potatowejj]

EP25 and now Victor Mancini.....big d-men, who hit a ton and skate like the wind. A future left-right shutdown pairing for the Canucks, for at least the next decade?

With Lankinen and hopefully Demko manning the pipes, this team is going to be very difficult to play against in coming seasons with this D-core solidifying. Hughes, Hronek, M-Petey, Myers, EP25, Willander, Mancini, Forbort. Who would've thought that in the earlier part of this season? If the goal is to build outwards from the net, they are doing a pretty good job of it. Obviously need a couple more game-breakers at forward, but by far the biggest weakness of the team earlier this year is looking to be shored up in spades right now.

 

[Huggy]

Knew he was supposed to have good mobility but not this good.

ya when i saw this live i was like wtf

makes everyone else look like they're standing still.

what kind of monkey sacrifice have we made for the D to do the 180 this season.

 

[BluesyShoes]

what kind of monkey sacrifice have we made for the D to do the 180 this season.

JT Miller was quite literally the sacrifice.

 

[lousy]

ya when i saw this live i was like wtf

makes everyone else look like they're standing still.

what kind of monkey sacrifice have we made for the D to do the 180 this season.

I saw that backcheck while watching the highlights and was blown away. He attacked the zone just before and recognized he was deep and turned on the jets to get back

 

[VanJack]

He's a 21 year old rookie, now being forced to play his off-side with Forbort. He struggled a bit in this Columbus game, but imagine trusting a raw rookie to play his off side in games as important as these are.

Just goes to show the confidence they have in him. Easily one of the most positive stories of the year for the Canucks.

 

[beachcomber]

This kid is awesome and he is only going to get better. His mobility is great for a big guy and he has a real mean streak. I'm not used to seeing this from the Nucks so trade him.lol.

 

[Knight53]

Don’t get why they didn’t paper him down so he can log number 1 minutes during abbys playoff run.

I get he made the big club and is probably penciled in for next year but seems like a missed opportunity for him to get some good experience.

 

[VancouverJagger]

Don’t get why they didn’t paper him down so he can log number 1 minutes during abbys playoff run.

I get he made the big club and is probably penciled in for next year but seems like a missed opportunity for him to get some good experience.

I dunno i think getting minutes during Nucks playoff push is just as if not more valuable. I think the Nucks have done a sublime job this year with their prospects overall..........soo much more confident then years past that's for sure

 

[VanJack]

Don’t get why they didn’t paper him down so he can log number 1 minutes during abbys playoff run.

I get he made the big club and is probably penciled in for next year but seems like a missed opportunity for him to get some good experience.

It might be a long-shot.....but he might get some consideration for Sweden's team at the World Hockey Championships this spring.

In fact in an ideal world--if you're a Canucks fan--both EP25 and Wilander replicate their roles paired together at the World Juniors two years ago.

It's unlikely, I know. But just imagine the benefits of having these two kids playing in the World Hockey Championships--instead of the AHL?

But could be also, that the Canucks want to protect them both from potentially picking up injuries in the AHL. They're too important to the franchise.

 

[Knight53]

 

[VanJack]

It's a lot more fun to be an unabashed optimist, particularly after this season. But I'm getting serious Miro Heiskanen vibes from EP25. That close to elite level skating stride is something you can't teach.

His closing speed on the puck-carrier is eye-popping at times. And when he starts taking a few more calculated risks in the offensive zone-look out!

As we witnessed from that highlight in the Islander game, he has the speed to track back on almost any rush. even if he's caught deep in the offensive zone.

Easily one of the most positive developments in an otherwise pretty dismal season.

 

[Baby Pettersson]

Just keeps getting better and better. Crazy development curve. Can't wait to see how he looks with a full off season and starting position in the NHL.

 

[ExarKun80]

Play the kid and Mancini 25 mins because the games don't matter. I'd rather we play the kids than give veterans 20+mins in garbage time. Now it's the perfect time to ramp up his minutes.

 

[Raistlin]

The biggest surprise of the season, and bodes really well for our future with him and hopefully Willander stabilizing the back in the top 4. These are the mid round wins that we really missed in the Benning era. If we can resign Hughes. These guys are the core for the next 8 years in the back.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

I wouldn’t go so far as Heiskanen vibes, but I’m definitely getting some flashes to Alex Edler’s first season with games in the NHL. If D-Petey could be anywhere close that would be an amazing boost for this group.

Can’t wait to see how he progresses.

 

[VanJack]

I've re-watched that clip from the Islanders game four or five times. It's like he's on jet-skis coming through the neutral zone to catch an Islander forward who was 20 feet ahead of him and hitting the blueline.

He probably won't replicate Heiskanen's offensive numbers. But the skating--it really does look a lot like Heiskanen. And EP25 was drafted two rounds later.

It's simply ridiculous finding a kid with this upside in the third round (80th overall) in the 2022 entry draft. Somebody in the Canucks amateur scouting department deserves props for this one.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

I’m very curious to see Willander at the NHL level because after this season, EP2 might legitimately be our best defensive prospect.

 

[Blue and Green]

It's a lot more fun to be an unabashed optimist, particularly after this season. But I'm getting serious Miro Heiskanen vibes from EP25.

When Heiskanen was Pettersson's age he probably would've won the Conn Smythe trophy if Dallas had beaten Tampa in the final. Pettersson looks like he can become a legitimate top-4 defenceman for the team; Heiskanen is top-4 in the entire league.

 

[DFAC]

Already the better Elias Pettersson

 

[LemonSauceD]

he’s kinda like an Ohlund/Edler hybrid but faster than both ever were. So like Mattias Ekholm if he was 21 years old.

 

[logan5]

I know people bristle at the thought, but if Pettersson is a faster version of Edler, his trade value must be very high. We can afford to trade him, and I think we have to, because that's the only way we will get the type of forwards that will give us a chance to win a SC.

I would think a rebuilding team would salivate at the thought of having a defenseman that size that is one of the fastest skaters in the league, and he has a good shot, so there is 2pp potential in him. We should easily be able to get an excellent 2c age 25 or under, or even a 1c if we add another decent prospect.

 

[logan5]

When Heiskanen was Pettersson's age he probably would've won the Conn Smythe trophy if Dallas had beaten Tampa in the final. Pettersson looks like he can become a legitimate top-4 defenceman for the team; Heiskanen is top-4 in the entire league.

I think the consensus here is that he will be a top pairing d man.

 

[Hansen]

I know people bristle at the thought, but if Pettersson is a faster version of Edler, his trade value must be very high. We can afford to trade him, and I think we have to, because that's the only way we will get the type of forwards that will give us a chance to win a SC.

I would think a rebuilding team would salivate at the thought of having a defenseman that size that is one of the fastest skaters in the league, and he has a good shot, so there is 2pp potential in him. We should easily be able to get an excellent 2c age 25 or under, or even a 1c if we add another decent prospect.

Due to his draft pedigree it'll take him a few years for the rest of the league to recognize his value. He has the potential to be a faster version of Edler, but he wont hit that full potential right away too.

Trading him now is selling low IMO not selling high

 

[beachcomber]

I know people bristle at the thought, but if Pettersson is a faster version of Edler, his trade value must be very high. We can afford to trade him, and I think we have to, because that's the only way we will get the type of forwards that will give us a chance to win a SC.

I would think a rebuilding team would salivate at the thought of having a defenseman that size that is one of the fastest skaters in the league, and he has a good shot, so there is 2pp potential in him. We should easily be able to get an excellent 2c age 25 or under, or even a 1c if we add another decent prospect.

He isn't getting traded.