Lakers

Anyone want to buy EP40:s jersey? Lakers has put all jerseys up for auction

According to Adam Brodecki (Lakers player) they've given EP the nickname "Alien" since he's out of this world

Have anyone of you seen this picture before? This is Elias turning five, according to his mom that was his favorite t-shirt

Kent Nilsson spoke to the media last night! These are some quotes from different articles: "Elias had already tied up with Nilsson after just two periods, if 54 points was the actual number. -I don't really give my old records that much of a thought if I'm being honest. I do remember that I reached the same points as Lars-Erik Ericsson in my final game. I think it was 53 points. Anyways, it was a different era, bear in mind that I managed to do this in just 36 games. Imagine if it was 50 games, would have been like a hundred instead... Nilsson laughs. Just as magic off the ice as he once was on it. I asked him if he was surprised that Elias managed to beat him - the answer? No. Not for a second. -He truly is an excellent player, with superb hands. When he bulks up a bit, he's going to be very hard for the other teams to handle, Nilsson says. -I really love watching him play, he's the type of player that you start counting shifts until he's on the ice again." Hockey Chronicle in the largest News-website in Sweden: "Kent Nilsson, Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin, Nicklas Bäckström. Elias Pettersson has beaten them all as a junior. Last night I had the opportunity to watch hockey history, as a 42 year old record got broken. Elias Pettersson show. One goal and two assists in the same period - point number 53, 54 and 55 of this season in the SHL. Then I had to watch one of the most epic tributes I've ever witnessed from the audience in Vida Arena - standing ovation for minutes. It reminded me of Börje Salming in Canada Cup. It just wouldn't end. The game was put on hold, so Elias Pettersson could scoop up all of that amazing atmosphere. It was a moment that he'll always remember. Canucks are placed in the bottom of the Pacific Division. They have nothing to play for, no hope at all this season. No hope might have been a bit of a stretch, since they were able to get their hands on a generational talent with their #5 pick. Who could have thought that? The talk on the town in Vancouver was disappointment "who is this scrawny kid from Sweden?" they said. They wanted something else, something more powerful. Jim Benning had to make a gamble, and boy did it pay off... I haven't seen such a talented player since Forsberg and Nilsson, players that could make your jaw drop to the floor. Players that was just on a different level. (...Then the article just talks about records....) In my eyes, Elias Pettersson could become the best Swedish player in the history of this lovely game. He's a Super Superstar. If he gains some weight, he's going to be unstoppable in the NHL, no doubts about it. Can he beat Nilssons Swedish record of 132 points in 82 NHL-games? Well, probably not. But, one thing I know for sure is that he's going to be pretty damn close. Hope you like it

Since I'm a Swede, I'm not going to comment too much on the game. I think this new "diving" $&!# both USA and Canada's Juniors are doing the last few years are compeletly cancerous. Luckily both Senior squads aren't like that! But, as you said about EP, I still do believe that he needs to have one more season in Sweden. There's no rush. In this turnament it was pretty clear that he has that type of "next level Hockey-IQ" that doesn't work with players that have a lower skill. He needs to be surrounded by high-end players, like Boeser. Someone that can see what EP is about to do, before he does it (if that makes sense). EP will probably never be a "coast-to-coast"-player in that way. Look at his last three games in this turnament - he had to do EVERYTHING by himself pretty much and got nothing out of it...

Hey guys! Here's another interview in Swedish, this time with Elias brother Emil. Elias is the topic in a few subjects: Reporter: "What would you do in Elias position?" Emil: "Just keep on playing the same way. Take it slow, make sure your body is ready for North America. It's way more hits over here, that's for sure" R: "What do you say about his start this season?" E: "Well... Could it be better?! He's playing amazing. I know how good he can be when he hits his peaks, but that he would make these many points... pretty unreal for a 19 year old. He's playing just like he did last year, with no fear. Just to make that step to the SHL so easily at his age is ridiculous." R: "Obviously you had a part in his decision to choose Växjö Lakers, right?" E: "Of course. I told him about how everything works in Växjö, what the coaches are like and the type of attitude they have in their locker room. It's an awesome organization, with really good leaders like Sam Hallam and the legend Jörgen Jönsson. I saw in the news paper that he said he was a bit afraid to play with Pesonen and Kiiskinen in the beginning. Like, it would be embarrassing to make mistakes with players like that. But, that's the beauty of it all - Kiiskinen would get pissed at him if he didn't play his style of game. I know that, because that's how he was towards me last season. And Hallam too, he allows you to make mistakes to grow. He wouldn't get decapitated if he made an error, not even if it's a huge one. For Elias, being as creative as he is, Lakers is probably the best place for him to grow right now"

Not that I know of. Not in his family either. Off topic: I wonder if Canucks are looking into his brother, Emil. He played for Lakers last season, was contracted by Preds after the season ended. They are very similar in play style, Elias has more skill though. Imagine Dahlén-Emil-Elias.... Holy mother of God

Don't forget that Backstrom also was super skinny the year he got drafted. When I met him 2005, he said he was about 165 pounds (looked similar to Pettersson, more like a marathoner than a hockey player). Now Backstrom is at 214 lbs - just like Forsberg. The thing with Peter was that he was always fearless, he competed at every shift. He even said, the day his jersey got retired for the Avs, that "I hope that when people are going to talk about me in the future, they'll say that I gave it my all. That I played with my heart, every shift. That I never hesitated to go after the puck." I see that same thing with Pettersson. He's so light, almost looks like a 14 year old who just started puberty... It's insane that he doesn't care about getting hit by someone that weighs 220 lbs in the corner. He just wants to get that puck, because its his. (At least I hope that's his mindset)

I'd say you're completely right! They both have that same "game-breaking-good-at-everything"-x factor. Elias can potentially be a good hitter too, just like Forsberg was. The few hits he's made have been on point technically, which is key tbh. Combined with the fact that he's fearless, he could be something really special in the future. If you read some of the Swedish news, they all say that "He's something special, one of a kind" etc. For instance, front page of the biggest news paper in Sweden last night: "Never seen anything like him since Forsberg Wennerholm: He's almost too good for SHL - I just sat there, drooling over his skills" The article starts with: "Eighteen year old Pettersson took down the mighty Frölunda by himself. I haven't seen a junior player dominate the ice surface in SHL this much since Peter Forsberg. Every time he got the puck I couldn't stop smiling - his quickness, niftiness and acceleration combined with a hockey sense and stick handling that's out of this World. Anyone can see that he has another dimension in his game and he's aimed for greatness on a larger scene than SHL. Even Swedens most hyped hockey-talent right now, Rasmus Dahlin, was in the shadow of Pettersson this evening."

Hahaha two more breakaways, jeeez

A short interview for you guys after the second: R: What a night for you so far, how are you experiencing the game? E: Yeah, well, it's fun to play hockey tonight that's for sure R: Hehe, I could have guessed so! But it's been quite fun for you this whole season if im not mistaken? E: Yeah, definitely! I think I had, like, three bad games but all-in-all its been really good. Getting some points really boosts your self esteem and playing hockey with self esteem is the best feeling in the world R: What's the secret to adapt to the SHL as fast as you've done? E: I play in a fantastic team, with really good teammates. They have helped me develop in ways I couldn't have imagined before getting here R: If you have to summarize the game this far, what would you say? E: I'd say that Frölunda is a bit better here in the second. We need to handle the puck with more ease R: It's always nice to have a good PP then, right? E: Haha, yeah, can't complain there

Really? Thats super cool! You'll notice the atmosphere in SHL differs a bit from the NHL.... Something like this: (Sorry for super off-topic)

Well, as promised I'm giving you some stuff that you might not get over here. Earlier today Elias had an interview with our local radio and the translation is something like this: (R is for Reporter and EP... well, you can guess that) R: What do you need to improve to make it in the NHL? EP: There's really no secret that I need to get stronger, but I'm very aware of that and it's something I'm working on every day R: Just bulk up basically? EP: Exactly! I'm a bit thin as it is right now... R: ...Thin for a hockey player maybe - you're twice my size haha! EP: Haha absolutely not! But yeah... gaining some muscles and I'll be ready for North America R: Do you feel any pressure regarding that you need to have a "good season" or even next year because if you don't the Canucks wouldn't let you go over seas? EP: Nah. I don't feel pressure, I never feel pressure. I've joined an organization in Sweden that are very driven, with superb work ethics in every aspect of the day. I'm really pleased with my choice of team in Sweden and they will make sure that I'm developing into the type of player that's going to make it in the NHL. R: .... But, are you feeling that your stay in the Lakers needs to be really good or? EP: *Sigh* no, it's nothing I'm thinking about. It's not like... let's say I have a bad game and then think "Well, next game I need to score two goals otherwise the Canucks wouldn't want me to join them in the future". All I can do is playing a solid game, doing my very best and the rest is just going to happen. It's always been like that for me. R: Yeah, well, it worked out last season... EP: Yeah, but... it's not guaranteed. It's hard work, every single day. You can't be successful without hard work. R: Vancouver are counting on that you're going to be one of their best players in the future, since you were drafted as #5. In most of the cases, players that are drafted as high as that have become very successful. With a fast car in the garage, money in the bank and so on. Have you even tried to grasp the fact that it might be you in the future? EP: Well, obviously you start to daydream from time to time... That many NHL-players earn a lot of money, and are living in their own dream world. But they have worked super hard and they've been driven to get to that level too. And it's always been my dream and I'm motivated to make it happen. R: Since it all happened this summer, have you felt the fact that people are recognizing you on the streets? Wanting to take selfies and getting your autograph? EP: Well, there have been some change that's for sure. Some Canucks fans have sent me messages with motivating stuff like "you're our next superstar" and "you're going to become one of the greatest" it's super exciting. I take my time to answer some of the messages, just hoping that it'll make their day. R: Do you enjoy being a celebrity? EP: Naah, celebrity is a stretch. I think hockey-people in Sweden and Canucks-fans knows who I am. But I don't really care if I'm being honest. I just try to have fun and enjoy my life. But I'm always going to take good care of my fans, if they want a picture or an autograph I'm never going to say no. I've been a fan too growing up, if it'll make someone's day, that means everything. Well... I think you might have a future captain if everything goes as planned

Well, as I wrote before, I think that EP will be doing great in the Lakers this season. Pesonen and Kiiskinen (both very, very, good players here) will help him and make sure that he keeps on developing. Btw, last time I saw a kid with his talent and eye for the game was back in 2006. This scrawny kid named Nicklas Bäckström showed SHL what pure talent looks like. And that weight is something that everyone can gain - but not heart nor brains. Back then Bäckström weighed 176 pounds, now he's at 214(!) EP has a toolbox to make 100 points/season, the rest is all about hard work and understanding of how and when to use his skills.

I've followed NHL, SHL, KHL, NLA, SM-Liiga and AHL for several years. Its really hard to compare tbh. I'd say its more like this: NHL - (Obviously, duh) KHL/SHL - KHL has some teams that would do pretty good in the NHL, no doubt about that. They have players that would dominate just as much in NHL as they do in KHL. However, KHL has many teams that would get beaten quite easily by many SHL-teams. The gap in KHL is pretty crazy, theres no silver lining when it comes to standards and they dont play as good defensive hockey as a team from SHL. SM-Liiga/Extra Liga/NLA -A lot looser on the defensive aspect, it's more rock n' roll all in all. These leagues has got some great teams, teams that would do fine in KHL/SHL. Teams like Liberec, Sparta Prague, HIFK, Tappara, Berne, Zug, Davos and so on. But, just like KHL, all of these leagues has got some really $&!#ty teams too. Teams that would be so destroyed if they played vs a top team from SHL or KHL. We're talking 10-0 without a doubt. All in all I would say that AHL has got some standards, but its so different from the European style of hockey. Someone wrote that "an AHL team would beat any Swedish team on a smaller rink" and I'm not too sure about that, I'd say it depends. If it was one of the top 5 teams, I'd say: No chance in hell. Btw, this list gets updated every year. This is the official list for European Hockey Rankings (make sure that you change season to 2016/17)