Pettersson signs entry-level contract with Canucks

Elias Pettersson
signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.
The 19-year-old forward was selected by the Canucks with the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

"Elias is a talented offensive player with tremendous vision and skill," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. "Like most Canucks fans we watched with excitement the incredible season he had in Sweden. This is an important offseason of training and development for Elias and we expect him to be ready to challenge for a roster spot in training camp."
Pettersson was named regular season and playoff MVP after helping Vaxjo win the Swedish Hockey League championship. He led the SHL with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) and a plus-27 rating in 44 regular-season games, and set a league record for most points by an under-20 player; the previous mark was 53 points by Kent Nilsson in 1975-76. Pettersson then led the SHL playoffs in goals (10) and points (19).

He had surgery to repair a broken thumb injured playing for Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in September.
"Our medical staff took a look at the X-rays and the surgery he needed was a pretty straightforward surgery," Benning told TSN 1040 on Thursday. "They did it over there (in Sweden) and everything went well. As far as any physical therapy is concerned, we'll be in constant contact with his therapists over there to make sure everything is on schedule."