Canucks’ Pettersson proving to be the real deal, earning praise from teammates
VANCOUVER — Elias Pettersson has drawn awe from around the NHL with his stunning goals and mind-bending moves over the past two months, but those who’ve played alongside him say there’s likely more to come.
The Vancouver Canucks rookie has already notched 13 goals and eight assists in 20 games and earned comparisons to some of hockey’s greatest legends.
It’s hype that his current and former teammates say is warranted.
Andrew Calof played with Pettersson on the Vaxjo Lakers in Sweden last year and said everyone knew right away that the then-teen was a “special talent” with an insatiable work ethic.
“He’s a perfectionist. When he sets his mind to something, he will accomplish it,” Calof, an Ottawa native, said in an email from Russia where he’s currently playing for the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Pettersson never stopped vying to grow as a player, constantly watching video and working after practices on shooting and passing, Calof said.
“He just would spend so much time trying to improve every aspect of his game and that’s what makes him such a fantastic player,” he said. “And what’s scary is he will only get better and better.”
The Lakers captured the Swedish Hockey League championship.
Pettersson — who led the entire league in scoring with 56 points — was dubbed the most valuable player and painted himself gold to match the golden helmet he received for the honour.
“He was the golden boy!” Calof said. “He was a huge part of that championship.”
Even his teammates see similarities to the greats.
“I see shades of (former Detroit Red Wing) Pavel Datsyuk and those type of players in him, just his hands, the way he moves out there,” said Canucks centre Bo Horvat.
“But I think he’s himself.”