Pettersson playing big role in youthful takeover of NHL

SAN JOSE -- Elias Pettersson looked more like an awestruck kid than the highest-scoring rookie in the NHL.

The Vancouver Canucks forward had just left a radio interview when he noticed New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, one of his idols growing up in Sweden, sitting across the room at a podium during the NHL All-Star Game Media Day presented by adidas on Thursday.
Pettersson's eyes opened wide, just like many goalies around the League when he's skated in on them this season.
RELATED: [Full 2019 NHL All-Star Game coverage]
"Wow," the 20-year-old said. "I've never met him before."
Pettersson was 6 years old when Lundqvist played his first NHL game in 2005. Now they're together as part of the League's elite at the
2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend
.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Lundqvist, now 36 years old, said. "These guys seem to be getting better and better at a younger age."
This weekend is a prime example of that.
There will be 11 players in the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS) younger than 23: Pettersson; 19-year-old Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen; 20-year-old Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller; 21-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews; 21-year-old Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot; 21-year-old Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho; 21-year-old New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal; 22-year-old Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel; 22-year-old Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak; 22-year-old Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid; and 22-year-old Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen.
It will be the first All-Star Game for Heiskanen, Keller, Chabot, Aho, Barzal, Pastrnak and Rantanen. Matthews and McDavid are the veterans of the group, each playing in their third game.
Rantanen is second in NHL scoring with 74 points (23 goals, 51 assists), four behind Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. McDavid is tied for third with 73 points (29 goals, 44 assists).

"One look at the top scorers in this League, and it shows how skilled these kids are," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who will head the Atlantic Division all-stars. "And the thing is, they're not afraid to make mistakes. They have a quiet swagger around them, and that's not a bad thing.
"Remember when it was the guys who were 30, 31 who were getting the big contracts? Then it went to 27. Now it's the 22-, 23-year-old kids who are cashing in because they are so impressive."
Pettersson became the first teenager to win the scoring title in the Swedish Hockey League when he had 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) in 44 games for Vaxjo in 2017-18. He said the lessons learned playing against grown men last season prepared him for life in the NHL.
"On the ice it helped my confidence," he said. "Off the ice, well, all the attention I'm getting, I'm starting to handle it a bit better. It's tough, being a different language and all.
"I'm getting there."
Pettersson leads NHL rookies in goals (23), assists (22) and points (45). In the process, he and his fellow so-called young guns have caught the attention of veterans such as Lightning center Steven Stamkos.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Elias Pettersson for sure," Stamkos said. "We played Vancouver a couple times and I'm excited to see what he can do. I get a front-row seat to Matthews and Eichel and those guys in our division, so for me right now, with what he's doing and the year he's had, it's Pettersson."
For Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, it will be a great opportunity to see some of the young talent his native Finland is producing.
"I'm going to put my Finnish glasses on," Rinne said. "I'll be rooting for Sebastian Aho, Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen. It's been amazing to watch those guys."
Barzal pointed out that five of the top 18 picks in the 2015 NHL Draft are here: McDavid (No. 1), Eichel (No. 2), Rantanen (No. 10), Barzal (No. 16) and Chabot (No. 18).
"I've played against these guys long enough so you know how good they are," he said. "It's no surprise they're here."
Deservedly so too.