"Anaheim gave me the chance to become an NHL player, they drafted me and they really gave me a chance," he said. "But once I found out I was coming to Pittsburgh I was really excited."
Pettersson, who will wear No. 28, arrived late last night after the trade was announced in the afternoon and was on the ice for the Penguins' game-day skate this morning ahead of their matchup with the Colorado Avalance on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.
"It was a hectic day, you know? Both yesterday and this day," he said. "But I feel like everyone has welcomed me. I know it was just one practice. Hectic 24 hours for sure."
The 22-year-old defenseman, who is playing on his entry-level contract, is signed through the end of the regular season and he carries an average annual value of $894,167. Pettersson will be a restricted free agent this summer.
The native of Skelleftea, Sweden, who was drafted in the second round (38th overall) in 2014, is currently in his second season playing in North America. This year, Pettersson has suited up for 27 of Anaheim's first 29 games, contributing six assists, a plus-4 and 17 penalty minutes while averaging 14:01 minutes per game.
He had been taking on a larger role for the Ducks over the past two weeks. In his final six games with Anaheim, Pettersson tallied four assists, was a plus-3 and logged 18:22 minutes per night. He views joining the Penguins as a big opportunity to keep building on that.
"Coming to a team that has won so much these past few years, I know they're having injury trouble in the D corps," said Pettersson, who knows Derek Grant from playing with him last year in Anaheim. "It's a great opportunity for me. Big stage."
Head coach Mike Sullivan said Pettersson is available to play tonight, but did not divulge if he would make his Penguins debut tonight. He did say that the Penguins' hockey ops department thinks very highly of the young Swede, who measures out at 6-foot-3, 177 pounds and is a left handed shot.
"He has good size, he has a long reach," Sullivan said. "He has good hockey sense. He passes the puck extremely well. He has good mobility for his size. He's positionally sound. There's a lot of things to like about his game. We think he can help strengthen our defense corps. Certainly we're excited to work with him and excited that he's a part of the Penguins."
