Gone are the days of Vancouver relying solely on seasoned AHL veterans and recycled journeymen to fill the necessary holes in their lineup. This season, a new wave of talent has emerged—young, hungry players who are finally ready to contribute valuable minutes when called upon.
This year, we’ve already seen Aatu Räty establish himself as a capable centreman, while Jonathan Lekkerimäki has taken his first tentative steps in the NHL. Now, it’s time for another name to enter the mix: Elias Pettersson, the defenceman, recently got his first taste of the big leagues. Well, at least his first promotion to soak up the NHL environment.
With Derek Forbort landing on Injured Reserve and six healthy defenders remaining, Rick Tocchet has described Pettersson’s promotion as a precautionary measure. While he still may be some time from enjoying his first NHL game, it’s worth asking: Is he ready for this? And why was he chosen for the call-up?
A Season of Growth and Consistency
Just 20 years old, he has spent the last few months adapting to the North American game, joining Abbotsford late in the 2023-24 season and now thriving as a full-time member of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate. Before jumping across the Atlantic, Pettersson developed his game in Sweden’s SHL and Allsvenskan leagues, with an appearance for Sweden at the World Junior Championships mixed in, where he helped secure a silver medal on home ice.
Now, in Abbotsford, he has established himself as a strong presence and has arguably been Abbotsford’s most consistent defender. His game may not be filled with flashy, highlight-reel moments, but what he does bring to the table is an impressive blend of two-way play, physicality, and smart decision-making.
Since game one, Pettersson has been a staple on Abbotsford’s second pairing and penalty-killing units. He’s averaging just under 18 minutes of ice time per game but recently enjoyed his first taste of top pair deployment, where he saw nearly 22 minutes.
The transition was never truly a concern for a player of his ilk. Simply put, he plays a “meat and potatoes” style of hockey—physical, responsible, and highly effective, which screams pro-ready.
Steady Presence on the Blue Line
Aside from the obvious physical elements, what makes the Swedish rearguard game is his gap control. Whether he’s defending in his own zone, pushing forward in neutral ice, or closing down an opponent in the offensive zone, Pettersson is relentless. Sometimes, it’s with his body; others by utilizing his stick to inflict pressure. Regardless of how, he doesn’t give opposing forwards much room to operate, using his positioning to pressure them into making rushed, ineffective plays. As is expected with a rookie defender, the speed of the AHL game has gotten the best of him at times, but more often than not, his tight gaps and aggressive approach have led to positive results.
And, of course, it’s not just about the positioning—Pettersson also knows how to make his physical presence felt in a big way.
Despite being just 20 years old, the 6-foot-3, 209-pound defender is quickly building a reputation as a player who won’t hesitate to make a big hit and get under opponents’ skin. It’s become a known fact, and surely one that the competition talks about in their pre-game chats: keep your head on a swivel when the big Swede is on the ice.
He’s not only capable of landing punishing checks in open ice, along the boards, or in the corners but will do his best to agitate and make life extremely tough when battling for position. He consistently keeps himself in the middle of the action, whether it’s clearing out bodies in front of the net or breaking up the cycle with a well-timed hip check.
Pettersson isn’t just inflicting pain—he’s also willing to take it, sacrificing his body to block shots and win tough battles. He averages more than one hit and one blocked shot per game, and this gritty, blue-collar effort has helped him earn a positive plus/minus rating (plus-3) on a team struggling to contain opponents defensively.
A Calm and Composed Puck Mover
While Pettersson’s calling card may be his heavy and aggressive play, his two-way capabilities shouldn’t be overlooked. One of Vancouver’s weaknesses has been a lack of puck-moving defencemen, and he is more than capable of addressing that flaw.
With the puck on his stick, he’s calm and composed, not easily flustered by forecheckers. His confidence with the puck likely stems from his willingness to take a hit to make a play rather than panic under pressure. He plays with his head up, scans the ice well, looks for the best option, and often makes the right pass.
His decision-making is sound, and he’s willing to make a cutback or reset if it means buying himself and his teammates more time. Whether it’s a quick outlet pass or a longer stretch pass to break out of the zone, Pettersson can get the puck where it needs to go. Of course, there are still growing pains—like any young player, he makes the occasional mistake—but the positives far outweigh the negatives.
With just four assists on the season, the offence isn’t the reason he has been called up. He’s not an overly dynamic player, and he’s unlikely to dance along the blue line or freeze defenders and netminder by using crafty head manipulations. Instead, he keeps things simple. He finds shooting lanes, puts pucks on the net, and doesn’t overcomplicate things in the offensive zone.
So, is Elias Pettersson ready for the NHL? That depends on what you’re looking for. You may want to look elsewhere if you expect offensive contributions or end-to-end rushes. But if expectations are a steady, confident defenceman who can play mistake-free hockey, kill penalties, and make life miserable for the opposition, Pettersson is your guy.
While he may not dazzle, he plays his role exceptionally well with a physical, responsible, and mature brand beyond his years. The NHL is a different beast, and there will undoubtedly be bumps along the way, but with his skill set, he’s quickly becoming a name to keep in high regard when chatting about viable call-up options.
