The 20-year-old center finished his first NHL season with a Vancouver rookie record 66 points (28 goals, 38 assists) in 71 games, passing Pavel Bure (1991-92) and Ivan Hlinka (1981-82), who each had 60 points.
"My] legs [are] still shaking from [my] speech," Pettersson said. "I'm extremely happy. So many people to thank for being here, but my family needs to be thanked the most, and they know."
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Pettersson is the 31st player in NHL history to end a season leading rookies in goals, assists and points, and the first since Artemi Panarin with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015-16 (30 goals, 47 assists, 77 points in 80 games). He also set a Canucks rookie record with seven game-winning goals.
"I didn't know how well I would do coming into the season, but I started off really good and just took it from there and then, I don't know, I hit the bump at the end of the season," Pettersson said. "I'm very happy with my season."
Pettersson led NHL rookies in power-play goals (10) and primary assists (24). His shooting percentage of 19.4 percent ranked seventh among NHL players who scored at least 15 goals. He led the Canucks with 30 minor penalties drawn, and Vancouver had 50.14 percent of shot attempts at 5-on-5 when Pettersson was on the ice.
He is the second Canucks rookie to win the Calder (Bure, 1991-92), which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.
"I don't see myself as a superstar, I see myself as a kid playing hockey and living my dream here in North America," Pettersson said. I'm just excited for the future and I just want to continue to grow as a player."
