Elias Pettersson | #40 | C

[SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME]

6 minutes ago, canuckistani said:

Thank you.

Yes, i am hoping too that he is our future 1C, because i value 1C more than 1W, especially when we have no clear-cut 1C guy yet ( i see Bo as a low end 1C/high end 2C future). 
Do you think he is strong/weak/average on the face-offs for his age ?

 

No problem. The question came up in another thread earlier today so I was ready with an answer.

 

As to faceoffs, he's probably weak right now, at least by NHL standards. He's not taking a lot of draws for Växjö so he'll need to work on that skill when the time comes. He's also not particularly strong physically (yet). 

 

But I don't see it as much of an issue. First off, faceoffs are generally overvalued and don't tend to affect game outcomes too much (except for a few situations and teams generally deploy their "ace" specialists for those draws). Second, Pettersson is so talented and naturally gifted that I'd expect, should he decide he wants to be really good at faceoffs, he'll just become really good at faceoffs. But for now, he's concentrating on being really good at scoring.

Edited October 25, 2017 by SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME

[canuckistani]

1 minute ago, SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME said:

No problem. The question came up in another thread earlier today so I was ready with an answer.

 

As to faceoffs, he's probably weak right now, at least by NHL standards. He's not taking a lot of draws for Växjö so he'll need to work on that skill when the time comes. He's also not particularly strong physically (yet). 

 

But I don't see it as much of an issue. First off, faceoffs are generally overvalued and don't tend to affect game outcomes too much (except for a few situations and teams generally deploy their "ace" specialists for those draws). Second, Pettersson is so talented and naturally gifted that I'd expect, should he decide he wants to be really good at faceoffs, he'll just become really good at faceoffs. But for now, he's concentrating on being really good at scoring.

Well said. With Manny in our staff, i don't fear his face-off taking ability in the future. Atleast he is in good hands.

However, i am perplexed as to why a playmaking offensive player, who's only major knock is strength at this point, would be slotted in to play wing, over centre -since wingers do more board battles than centremen. is it because board battles are rarer in the bigger rink ?

 

[Alflives]

1 minute ago, canuckistani said:

Well said. With Manny in our staff, i don't fear his face-off taking ability in the future. Atleast he is in good hands.

However, i am perplexed as to why a playmaking offensive player, who's only major knock is strength at this point, would be slotted in to play wing, over centre -since wingers do more board battles than centremen. is it because board battles are rarer in the bigger rink ?

 

Wingers can get away without defensive responsibility down low in their own zone, where body position is extremely important.  Being so light, Pettersson would likely get pushed aside, and not be any kind of impediment to his opponents.  could you imagine him trying to pin a 200 pound man to the end wall, and also keep that man from moving to the front of the net?  With the puck, I'm sure the kid is amazing.  Without the puck, as a center, his lighter weight and lack of strength would make him a big time liability in his own zone.

[Rollieo Del Fuego]

1 hour ago, Kungfudru said:

I think if Pettersson, Gaudette, Gadjovic, Lind, Dahlen, Juolevi all played in th AHL next year it would be better for their development. A future core that would all get to play together and learn together, win together. There's no need for them to play in the NHL when they can develop in the Utica system, and if any of them warrant a promotion than they can always get called up. Goldobin, Boucher, and others should fill out the vacant roster spots for the big club next year. 

Goldobin for the the 3rd spot I mentioned...I would agree with and if they don't score a goal a game ( as a line in preseason ) then maybe the AHL for one or both...BUT...

if Elias and Adam end up with Boeser in the preseason next year ....they will score a goal a game ...and...not get scored on....

 

So if that happens then Greener can't possibly keep them off the team.

If we end up this year not even in the running for a playoff spot I think the Sedins retire, Vanek and Gagner gone at the TD and probably Burmistrov as well ...leaving:

 

Petterson / Gaudette / Boeser

Baer   /  Horvat  /  Virtanen

Granlund  /  Sutter /  Rodin

Gaunce / MacEwen or Granlund  / Dorsett

Eriksson'........  6M on the bench but in my view MacEwen will be providing more by next year and Gaunce does/will this year....

[DeNiro]

2 hours ago, SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME said:

He's playing RW.

 

Here's the most recent lineup chart:

 

 

He's been at RW for most (if not all) of this season (I went back the last 5 games and every lineup had him at RW).

 

As to why, first off I'd assume he's on his off side for the usual reasons involving shot angles and a LH shot being more dangerous offensively from the right side.

 

Secondly, and probably this is really what you're wondering, he's not at centre because the SHL (and many other leagues) tends to put most of their young centremen on the wings to help their development, and tends to favour veteran players at centre.

 

Also, Pettersson isn't a pure centre but more of a hybrid C/W, so it's not all that surprising to see him playing wing. He may even end up a winger in the NHL (although I believe the Canucks envision him as a future centre).

Unfortunately we have the most depth on the right side in our prospect pool. We better hope he doesn't develop as a right winger because that's not a position of need.

 

I hope once he adjusts to the SHL they slot him in at center, at least here and there.

[Noble 6]

4 hours ago, Alflives said:

Wingers can get away without defensive responsibility down low in their own zone, where body position is extremely important.  Being so light, Pettersson would likely get pushed aside, and not be any kind of impediment to his opponents.  could you imagine him trying to pin a 200 pound man to the end wall, and also keep that man from moving to the front of the net?  With the puck, I'm sure the kid is amazing.  Without the puck, as a center, his lighter weight and lack of strength would make him a big time liability in his own zone.

 

This is exactly it. There's more to playing center than just faceoffs. 

 

Pettersson will likely never really be a physical force by any stretch, so learning how to defend against men at the next level should be critical. He's going to have to learn to always put himself in the best position possible to win the battle. He seems to already have a quick and active stick in terms of stealing pucks. But learning how to play defense physically in the NHL will probably be one of his biggest challenges. 

 

I think big parts of that will be his coordination, skating and balance. Recently, I posted a video of Pettersson highlights from 2015 and he looked a lot more coordinated on his feet. Hopefully he can get back to that soon. With that improving, his edgework and balance should follow. 

[48MPHSlapShot]

This is kinda why I don't see him making the team right off the bat. While I'm normally not an advocate for keeping a prospect out of the lineup if they look NHL ready, Pettersson not only needs to fill out a bit and gain strength, but he's also going to have to get used to playing center again and do so on a smaller ice surface than he's used to, meaning he won't have the time or space that he's used to having in Sweden.

 

A year in the AHL after this season is what's necessary before he makes the jump to the parent club imho. 

[The Big Luongo]

13 hours ago, Alexandre said:

Pesky is good. He wont just be all offense.

Seeing him play I agree it's actually something that really stood out for me besides his high level skill.

 

He has a real knack for being all over the puck giving no space and also a great stick and hand eye at picking off passes.

 

To me this is huge obviously the more turnovers you create the better makes the opposing team scramble to defend and just the fact you have the puck much more to create offense for you and will definitely be some great young linemates.

 

Love this pick!

Edited October 26, 2017 by The Big Luongo

[messier's_elbow]

5 hours ago, DeNiro said:

Unfortunately we have the most depth on the right side in our prospect pool. We better hope he doesn't develop as a right winger because that's not a position of need.

 

I hope once he adjusts to the SHL they slot him in at center, at least here and there.

Yeah I really hope he's a centre, and not a RW. We already have Boeser, Virtanen and Lind in that position of strength. He will probably need another year in SHL or Utica after this to work on the centre position and his size/strength. 

[flickyoursedin]

18 minutes ago, messier's_elbow said:

Yeah I really hope he's a centre, and not a RW. We already have Boeser, Virtanen and Lind in that position of strength. He will probably need another year in SHL or Utica after this to work on the centre position and his size/strength. 

Every time I see Virtanen highlights it’s him coming down the left wing. He’s a left winger waiting to happen the coaches just gotta let it happen. It plays better to his right handed shot. Still doesn’t change the idea to your post it would be much better having Pettersson become a top centre for us as that’s what we are desperately lacking.

[DeNiro]

12 minutes ago, flickyoursedin said:

Every time I see Virtanen highlights it’s him coming down the left wing. He’s a left winger waiting to happen the coaches just gotta let it happen. It plays better to his right handed shot. Still doesn’t change the idea to your post it would be much better having Pettersson become a top centre for us as that’s what we are desperately lacking.

I actually think right wing benefits him more in a defensive standpoint. 

 

He seems to have figured out how to crossover to the left wing and get his shot off anyways, so being on the right side isn't that big of deal. I mean if he can get 8 shots in a game, it's not hurting him.

[Toews]

Will try and watch the game tomorrow. Will get to see Elias as well as Rasmus Dahlin, should be interesting.

[Nuck1991]

4 hours ago, messier's_elbow said:

Yeah I really hope he's a centre, and not a RW. We already have Boeser, Virtanen and Lind in that position of strength. He will probably need another year in SHL or Utica after this to work on the centre position and his size/strength. 

we also have horvat, gaudette at centre. Mayb petterson should work on his strength rather than needs.

Edited October 26, 2017 by Nuck1991

[cyoung]

5 hours ago, Nuck1991 said:

we also have horvat, gaudette at centre. Mayb petterson should work on his strength rather than needs.

Don't worry. I'm sure he's doing that every day. 

[Toews]

Pettersson scores on a penalty shot. 

 

Edit: Damn almost scored again, was stopped point blank.

Edited October 26, 2017 by Toews

[SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME]

 

[aGENT]

Kid's killing it. Sample size is starting to become a non issue 

[AlwaysACanuckFan]

Including today's goal, that's a goal in three straight games. Love it love it love it!

[Chronic.Canuck]

1 minute ago, AlwaysACanuckFan said:

Including today's goal, that's a goal in three straight games. Love it love it love it!

No assists? No hockey IQ #bust

 

/sarcasm

[Goal:thecup]

24 minutes ago, SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME said:

 

EP sure made that look easy.