MAJOR | Players have spoken: Elias Pettersson compared to legends and Hall of Famers

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Felip Gosselin
April 17, 2023 (8:51 PM)

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Elias Pettersson has proven to be a superstar this year and he's lived up to the hype he's brought ever since the Canucks selected him.

The Swede collected an impressive 102 points this year and has even seen his name brought up in the Selke conversations, the award given to the league's top two-way forward. 4 Swedes players and former players have spoken of Pettey's effect and it does indeed confirm that the future is bright for the Canucks' number 40.

Viktor Arvidsson:

�'Pettersson was on his own level back home and took Växjö to the championships almost all by himself.»

Every single one of the players that were asked was unanimously impressed by his preternatural hockey sense, wicked shot, next-level playmaking, or wizard-like stickhandling. However, the trait that truly made him as special as he is was his work ethic:

Calle Jarnkrok:

�'Some players have the talent but they don't work hard. But Elias, he's working his ass off every time I see him play. I think that's special about him.»

Joel Eriksson Ek:

�'If you watch his skills, they're unbelievable,» he said. «He looks like Pavel Datsyuk out there when he's playing. The time that he's able to create for himself on the ice is pretty rare.''

Markus Naslund:

�'If you watched the Sedins or (Jaromir) Jagr or (Todd) Bertuzzi or (Peter) Forsberg they would always want a guy on their back and then maybe even attract another (defender) to make room for their linemates to make plays. Elias may not have the strength of some of the guys I mentioned, but he has the smartness and know-how to still be able to make plays with a lot of attention on him.''

Pettersson took everyone by surprise as he multiplied his production to stardom levels without taking shortcuts defensively. His ability to deceive his moves, his puck protection skills, his hockey IQ and his wicked shot all make him a threat everywhere he stands on the ice.

Pettersson will be looking for a new contract as soon as this summer, should we expect to see him sign an elite-level contract? Can he come back next year and score just as many points? More?

SOURCE: The Athletic