Elias Pettersson has drawn awe from around the NHL with his stunning goals and mind-bending moves over the past two months, but those whoB次元官网网址檝e played alongside him say thereB次元官网网址檚 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 hockeyB次元官网网址檚 greatest legends.
ItB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址渟pecial talentB次元官网网址� with a insatiable work ethic.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a perfectionist. When he sets his mind to something he will accomplish it,B次元官网网址� Calof, an Ottawa native, said in an email from Russia where heB次元官网网址檚 currently playing for the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League.
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Pettersson never stopped vying to grow as a player, constantly watching video and working after practices on shooting and passing, Calof said.
B次元官网网址淗e just would spend so much time trying to improve every aspect of his game and thatB次元官网网址檚 what makes him such a fantastic player,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淎nd whatB次元官网网址檚 scary is he will only get better and better.B次元官网网址�
The Lakers captured the Swedish Hockey League championship. Pettersson B次元官网网址� who led the entire league in scoring with 56 points B次元官网网址� was dubbed the most valuable player and painted himself gold to match the golden helmet he received for the honour.
B次元官网网址淗e was the golden boy!B次元官网网址� Calof said. B次元官网网址淗e was a huge part of that championship.B次元官网网址�
Pettersson was also a lot of fun to play with, Calof said.
B次元官网网址淲hoever was on his line knew they were going to get a couple of extra points that week because Elias would do something crazy and either give you an open net or score a shot that youB次元官网网址檙e think was impossible,B次元官网网址� he said.
Now heB次元官网网址檚 making the same sort of moves on hockeyB次元官网网址檚 biggest stage, deking out opponents, making jaw-dropping passes and rocketing pucks past stunned goalies.
The fifth-overall pick at the NHLB次元官网网址檚 2017 draft was named the leagueB次元官网网址檚 rookie of the month for October, despite missing two weeks due to a concussion he suffered from a hit by FloridaB次元官网网址檚 Mike Matheson on Oct. 13.
In early November, he became the youngest Canuck to ever put up a five-point game when he helped the Canucks squeeze out a 7-6 OT win over the Colorado Avalanche. The eye-popping performance led to the NHLB次元官网网址檚 second star of the week honour.
While heB次元官网网址檚 quickly become an offensive juggernaut for Vancouver, the 20-year-old centre is also showing his ability to be an all-around player, blocking shots and back-checking hard.
B次元官网网址淗is IQ on the ice is beyond mine and beyond our teamB次元官网网址檚, I think. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty funny,B次元官网网址� said Canucks right-winger Jake Virtanen. B次元官网网址淲hen you see him out there, heB次元官网网址檚 just thinking of stuff to do that no one else would really think of.B次元官网网址�
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Various hockey analysts have compared aspects of the six-foot-two, 176-pound SwedeB次元官网网址檚 game to some of hockeyB次元官网网址檚 best, including Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
Even his teammates see similarities to the greats.
B次元官网网址淚 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,B次元官网网址� said Canucks centre Bo Horvat.
B次元官网网址淏ut I think heB次元官网网址檚 himself. I donB次元官网网址檛 think thereB次元官网网址檚 any person in the league whoB次元官网网址檚 like Elias Pettersson. He brings his own element to the game.B次元官网网址�
Those elements already have the young athlete on a special level, Virtanen said.
B次元官网网址淚 think heB次元官网网址檚 possibly one of the best players in the NHL already,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 very fun to watch and obviously a treat to have on our team.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 still early in PetterssonB次元官网网址檚 career to compare him to one specific player, Calof said.
B次元官网网址淏ut heB次元官网网址檚 definitely the best player IB次元官网网址檝e ever played with,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚f he keeps this up, he could be the greatest hockey player to ever come out of Sweden. ThatB次元官网网址檚 certainly something I hope for.B次元官网网址�
Wayne Gretzky recently spoke about Pettersson on a Vancouver radio station, saying he sees similarities in how they both play the game.
Pettersson said being mentioned alongside Gretzky is a great honour, though itB次元官网网址檚 one he isnB次元官网网址檛 entirely comfortable with.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if anyone should be compared to him because heB次元官网网址檚 the greatest ever,B次元官网网址� said the rookie, who is described by teammates as quiet and humble off the ice.
Despite the parallels and the attention from around the league, Pettersson said heB次元官网网址檚 not feeling any extra pressure and is still having fun playing the game he loves.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 living my dream,B次元官网网址� he said.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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