Five years after selecting center
Elias Pettersson
with the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Canucks selected defenseman
Elias Pettersson
in the third round (No. 80) of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday.
"I'm a little bit shocked," the Sweden-born defenseman said. "It's just amazing."
Tweet from @Canucks: You heard correctly.Yes, we did just select Elias Pettersson at the 2022 #NHLDraft.
The two Petterssons are not related and have never met. The 18-year-old 2022 pick wears No. 26, in contrast to his countryman, who wears No. 40 for the Canucks.
His favorite player?
"Elias Pettersson." Naturally.
The second Elias Pettersson drafted by Vancouver is used to having the initial "E" from his first name before his surname on the back of his jersey after playing for the Sweden national team with forward Oskar Pettersson, who was selected eight picks earlier (No. 72) by the Ottawa Senators.
But how will the Canucks handle that with two players who have the exact same name?
"I don't know, he will choose," Pettersson said.
But that is a future problem. Pettersson (6-foot-2, 185-pounds) is expected to play for Orebro in the Swedish Elite League next season. The "other" Elias Pettersson will look to continue to star for Canucks after he had an NHL career-high 32 goals and 68 points in 2021-22.
"I have to work on my offense and be stronger and more physical," the younger Pettersson said.
He likes to watch Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and offered a scouting report on Vancouver's first-round pick (No. 15), Jonathan Lekkerimaki, who's also from Sweden.
"I think he has the best shot in this age group," Pettersson said. "He's a skilled player who can score many goals. He's an unreal player."
