CANUCKS HOPEFULS
Top 10 prospects to watch
The Young Stars Classic in Penticton isn’t what it used to be, but the hype remains.
The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames are not participating this weekend — replaced by UBC and University of Alberta — leaving Vancouver Canucks prospects with just two tests against the Winnipeg Jets.
That will leave the Canuck faithful wanting more because how super Swedes Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen adjust to the North American ice surface can’t be determined in just a pair of games. And just where Olli Juolevi is in his recovery from mid-June back surgery and what steps the intriguing Lukas Jasek, Kole Lind and Petrus Palmu have taken are more fodder for main camp.
Then again, the Penticton event has always piqued the curiosity. A year ago, Brock Boeser did everything but score and the consensus was the rookie right-winger, who became a Calder Trophy finalist with 29 goals in 62 games, had to earn an NHL roster spot.
Juolevi did everything wrong. He was often turnstiled, lacked a defensive presence, puckmoving ability and seemed disinterested. Yet in his rookie pro season in Finland, he started slow, had a strong second half and was the best post-season blue-liner for Turku TPS.
This year, every Pettersson shift will be scrutinized, whether he plays centre or wing. It’s what happens when you’re a 19-year-old rookie whiz kid in the Swedish Hockey League and have your way against grown men. A mind-boggling campaign included regular-season and playoff scoring titles and an MVP performance in leading the Vaxjo Lakers to a championshipseries sweep.
Pettersson established under-20 records with 56 points (24-32) in 44 regular-season games and averaged 1.273 points per outing. In the playoffs, the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft had a record 19 points (10-9) in 13 games and averaged 1.462 points per outing. It made the ongoing angst about his weight — he was 165 pounds when drafted and 177 pounds this summer — seem moot.
Pettersson also surpassed the U-20 regular-season and playoff production of Henrik and Daniel Sedin. His 75 combined points (34-41) in 57 games topped Henrik, who had 61 points (14-47) in 63 games in 1999-2000, and
Daniel, who managed 56 points (24-32) over 63 games in the same season.
“This has been my dream since I knew what the NHL was,” Pettersson said after signing a three-year entry-level contract in May. “I’ve always believed in myself, that I could do it as soon as possible. I play with instinct and if I feel I can drive the net or shoot the puck earlier, I just do it. Whatever comes to my mind first I just do it.”
That often meant getting the puck in the high slot, and instead of just releasing an underrated shot, working his way to the goal-line to finish scoring chances.
It took skill and some moxy because he played just nine games at centre last season and was even more dangerous coming off the wall or running the power play.
“I’m comfortable playing both wing and centre,” added Pettersson. “I see the possibility
of playing centre to get the puck more, but getting the puck higher up the ice on the wing, I see possibilities in both places.”
The Canucks see a potential dynamic Swedish duo in Pettersson and Dahlen to eventually replace the retired Sedins.
Dahlen finished second in Allsvenskan second-tier league scoring last season with 44 points (23-21) in 44 games and some scouts suggest his game, superior release and 180-pound frame may be better suited to an NHL leap than Pettersson.
But make no mistake, Pettersson is something special.
“Maybe he comes in like (Mathew) Barzal and kind of takes the league by storm,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said of last season’s Calder Trophy winner.