Elias Pettersson | #40 | C

[DontFockWithBrock]

2 hours ago, AlwaysACanuckFan said:

 

"Yes, Pettersson is a Lakers star, but the Timra-trained forward plays in Vaxjo, a southern Swedish city with a metropolitan population of 90,000 – a little different from Los Angeles. That said, if there is a basketball metaphor here, you could say Pettersson has been a slam-dunk success in his SHL rookie year. Although he’s still growing into his 188-cm frame, he’s heightened expectations quickly.
With 35 points in 26 games, he’s vying for the league scoring lead, producing at a rate comparable to legends like Kent Nilsson and Peter Forsberg. Vancouver fans are delighted with the Canucks’ decision to pick Pettersson fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Here in Buffalo, he’s already showed good chemistry with Alexander Nylander, who tied for the tournament points lead (12) with Russia’s Kirill Kaprizov in 2017.
We caught up with Pettersson for a charmingly candid interview after Sweden debuted with a 6-1 win over Belarus on Tuesday. The 19-year-old had a goal and an assist on the power play. That doubled his output in six games in his World Junior debut last year en route to fourth place.
How did you like the way your team performed in the opener?
We were a little nervous. It’s the first game in a big tournament. But we got the win and the job done, so that’s good.
What about your own play?
I was OK. I can do better. But it is the way it is. We’re going to practice tomorrow and then we have a game against the Czechs.
What kind of a role does coach Tomas Monten want you to play here compared to last year?
More of an offensive role, like the role I have in my team in Sweden, Vaxjo. Score goals and make plays in the offensive zone, and of course, play defence too.
You’ve got lots of scorers, but who is the funniest guy in your dressing room?
We’ve got some jokers in our team, but I think every time when Jacob Moverare talks, everybody laughs. He’s a very funny guy.
Who were your favorite players when you were a kid?
My first one was Peter Forsberg. Growing up, I also liked how Nicklas Backstrom and Pavel Datsyuk played.
Have you ever met any of them?
I remember I saw Peter Forsberg at Arlanda Airport, but I was too nervous to get a picture with him. Kind of regret that! It was two or three years ago. Hopefully I get to meet him sometime.
What were you doing when Sweden beat Canada in the gold medal game of the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Cologne?
I remember I was at a hockey school, like a summer hockey camp. So I couldn’t see the game because we had an early practice the day after. But when I saw the highlights, I got goosebumps and jumped around. It was amazing.
What’s the first hockey game you remember attending?
I think maybe the first one I remember was my first SHL game when I was six years old. It was Timra against somebody. I can’t recall exactly who, though.
When you talk to Canucks GM Jim Benning and associate chief amateur scout Thomas Gradin, what are they telling you?
Continue to play your game. We like what we see. Go on, keep on training. Be yourself on the ice.
What would it mean to you if the Sedins are still playing for Vancouver when you come to North America?
That would be awesome. Obviously, I’ve seen them lots growing up, playing at the Olympics and in Vancouver. So to maybe play with them someday would be awesome.
Do you cook for yourself?
I usually cook at home. But I’ve gotten a bit lazy about that in the last year! It’s easy to order from the restaurant and do a take-away at home. But I do cook.
What’s your pre-game meal?
I don’t have a pre-game meal I do every game. I usually take two food boxes from a Vaxjo restaurant.
Are you into music?
I listen to a lot – hip-hop, slow jam music, Ed Sheeran, stuff like that.
When you train, what are your favorite exercises and which ones do you hate?
I’m not sure. I like working on my stickhandling and my shooting. And I hate – well, I don’t hate – but of course, it’s more fun to train my stickhandling and shooting than it is to go in the gym and do squats. But when I do squats, I play better on the ice. So I like the gym work as well.
What do you think about the possibility of representing Sweden at the Olympics in Korea?
When I played well in the SHL, people have said I should be on the team. But I can’t control if I’m with the team. If I make the team, it would be a big honor for me."

Keep doing those squats EP! 

[The Big Luongo]

9 hours ago, wai_lai416 said:

aside from the elbow which warranted a suspension.. the other 2 suspension is more of being an agitator.. something Kesler and Burrows used to always do except they usually don't get suspended coz they know how to walk the grey area.. i wouldn't really consider that dirty.. tapping the ankle of a player leaving the ice and poking players with your stick on the bench.. watch the video of the so call spear.. it's more of a poke.. spearing would be a bit of a stretch.. he's an agitator that's his role and style. he's walking the fine line still trying to figure out what he can and can't do while pissing off the other team.. i wouldn't go as far as calling him dirty.. that's more a marchand 

You're dilusional if you think Tkachuk isn't over the edge dirty don't compare him to players who didn't try to hurt their opponents it makes no sense.

 

The headbutt, elbow and slew footing are pathetic cowardly plays that no player respects.

 

Tkachuk has a knack for scoring and does some things well but is a dirty punk and I'd rather have the great young prospects we have than a dirty player nobody respects.

 

Anyway this is all I'll say on this this because it's a Pettersson thread and I couldn't be more excited than what I've seen from him overall.

[Rob_Zepp]

32 minutes ago, The Big Luongo said:

You're dilusional if you think Tkachuk isn't over the edge dirty don't compare him to players who didn't try to hurt their opponents it makes no sense.

 

The headbutt, elbow and slew footing are pathetic cowardly plays that no player respects.

 

Tkachuk has a knack for scoring and does some things well but is a dirty punk and I'd rather have the great young prospects we have than a dirty player nobody respects.

 

Anyway this is all I'll say on this this because it's a Pettersson thread and I couldn't be more excited than what I've seen from him overall.

He has 21 goals in 110 NHL games.   While that is more impressive than, say, Gaunce it is not "knack for scoring" given the the Dbaggery it comes with.    Will not mention his name here (quoting was bad enough) as it sullies a talent like EP to have a DBag named in his thread.

[Gaudette Celly]

3 hours ago, AlwaysACanuckFan said:

Continue to play your game. We like what we see. Go on, keep on training. Be yourself on the ice.

This is what you tell players who don't need to be told; i.e. those very select few who innately know how to hockey.

[Phat Fingers]

4 hours ago, Hutton Wink said:

This is what you tell players who don't need to be told; i.e. those very select few who innately know how to hockey.

JB might be saying that same thing to more than one prospect this year....  as a long time fan I cannot recall anytime when the Canucks prospects have ever looked this promising. 

[MikeyD]

Just watched that video of his Belarus game. One thing I noticed is just how often he presents himself. He isn't lazy off the puck. Could be a bit more hungry for the puck (in regards to puck battles), but he's always looking to give an option or an option to pass to. So excited for this kid. 

[Rush17]

hour and 40 minutes to go until Pettersson time ;D

[ruilin96]

Generated quite a few scoring chances on the PP. EP always knows what to do with the puck. His play at his own zone is very underrated. Saw him won some puck battles near the blue line to chip the puck out of his own zone as well. Looking good this game thus far.

[Darius]

Team Sweden looks scary.  Will be a tough task for Canada.

[R.Dahlin26]

Has about 5 shots already. Runs the powerplay. Looks fantastic.

[Bo53]

Usually I can instantly spot EP without looking at a number because of his lanky frame but man oh man all these swedish kids look the same!

[EliPeterson40]

That PP was fun to watch. Dreamin about Brock and Elias on opposite halfboards for us, gunna be crazy

[Sean Monahan]

3 minutes ago, Bo53 said:

Usually I can instantly spot EP without looking at a number because of his lanky frame but man oh man all these swedish kids look the same!

I pick him out by looking for the big head. 

[redhdlois]

Yeah another PP !   

[Sean Monahan]

My oh my

[R.Dahlin26]

What a snipe by Pettersson wow

[Nuckin Kingsly]

Jesus Murphy What a snipe show 

[Odd.]

wow

[JoshuaGuy]

WOW. 

[GrizzlyAdams]

my goodness.

 

a beauty.