Elias Pettersson

Elias Nils Pettersson (born February 16, 2004) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Pettersson was selected in the third round, 80th overall, in the 2022 NHL entry draft by the Canucks.

Playing career In the 2020–21 season, Pettersson played for the junior team of Örebro HK, scoring seven points in 43 regular season games. He had low playing time, averaging 9:39 per game. On April 20, 2023, Pettersson was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks. The Canucks planned for Pettersson to continue playing in Sweden for the 2023–24 season, allowing his NHL contract to begin in the 2024–25 season. While the arranged deal allowed Pettersson to play for either Örebro or Västerås, Örebro's sporting director Niklas Eriksson said the intention was for Pettersson to remain at Västerås. Eriksson also said the team consulted the Canucks while arranging the move. Pettersson said that he would have preferred staying at Örebro but that he appreciated increased play opportunities at Vasterås. In November, he was injured with a concussion, missing several Västerås games but playing in a match for the junior national team. In January 2024, the Canucks stated that Pettersson would visit North America after the Allsvenskan season concluded. Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said that he planned for Pettersson to play for the Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Pettersson joined the Abbotsford Canucks on March 13, and finished the season with two assists in eight games.

Pettersson returned to Abbotsford to begin the 2024–25 season, and was named an AHL All-Star. However, he did not participate in the All-Star game due to his call-up with Vancouver. Pettersson made his NHL debut on January 25, 2025, in a game where he was a teammate with Elias Pettersson, a forward. He recorded his first NHL assist and point on February 2. Pettersson scored his first NHL goal on April 5, in a 6–2 win against the Anaheim Ducks. Pettersson's goal was the first of five goals in just 4 minutes and 30 seconds of game time, the fastest in team history at the time.

His style of play has been characterized as strong and physical.

International play

In 2023, Pettersson played for Sweden junior team at the 2023 World Junior Championships.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2021–22 Örebro HK J18 1 0 1 1 0 3 0 2 2 2 2021–22 Örebro HK J20 37 10 8 18 38 6 2 8 10 4 2021–22 Örebro HK SHL 17 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Örebro HK J20 14 5 10 15 10 2 0 0 0 0 2022–23 Örebro HK SHL 43 1 6 7 6 13 0 0 0 0 2023–24 Örebro HK J20 4 0 7 7 0 — — — — — 2023–24 Örebro HK SHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2023–24 Västerås IK Allsv 34 3 11 14 8 — — — — — 2023–24 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 8 0 2 2 6 1 0 0 0 2 2024–25 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 38 1 12 13 38 — — — — — 2024–25 Vancouver Canucks NHL 28 1 2 3 17 — — — — — 2025–26 Vancouver Canucks NHL 70 3 7 10 39 — — — — — 2025–26 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —SHL totals 64 1 7 8 6 13 0 0 0 0NHL totals 98 4 9 13 56 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2021 Sweden HG18 5 1 1 2 8 2022 Sweden U18 6 0 0 0 2 2023 Sweden WJC 4th 7 0 3 3 6 2024 Sweden WJC 7 0 2 2 0Junior totals 25 1 6 7 16