Vancouver Canucks: Fans react to Elias Pettersson selection

Twitter had something to say when the Vancouver Canucks drafted Elias Pettersson with their fifth overall selection

After months of speculation surrounding the Vancouver Canucks, they drafted centre Elias Pettersson with the fifth-overall selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. There was much talk of general manager Jim Benning trading up or trading down before the selection, but the Canucks stayed put to make this pick.

Needless to say, the trade winds were blowing and the phones were ringing. Big names like Artemi Panarin, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Derek Stepan were all on the move today.

Even the Canucks were talking with the Vegas Golden Knights immediately before the draft.

Picking fifth overall for the second time in as many years, the Canucks selected Elias Pettersson, the No. 2-ranked European player as ranked by the NHL Central Scouting Department.

Did Vancouver go Off the Board?

With Nico Hischier, Nolan Patrick, Miro Heiskanen and Cale Makar already selected at the top of the draft, Vancouver had a choice to make between players like Cody Glass,  Gabe Vilardi, and Casey Mittelstadt.

Pettersson is to play in Sweden next season, and many expect him to take a couple of seasons to develop into an NHL player. The primary concern with Pettersson is that his lack of size may not allow him to be a top player in America.

However, a delay before transitioning to the NHL could allow Pettersson to develop better. As an extremely skilled player, he is not suited for a bottom-six role behind players like Henrik Sedin, Bo Horvat, and Brandon Sutter.

Twitter Reacts

Canucks Nation’s Twitter had a mixed reaction to the Pettersson selection, best summed up by this tweet from TSN‘s Blake Price.

While often ranked lower than fifth, Pettersson is considered to be one of the most skilled players in the draft. His ability to make skilled plays at high speed is phenomenal, as well as his vision and hockey sense.

https://twitter.com/ryanbiech/status/878404650059300864

GM Jim Benning would have seen a lot of Elias Pettersson and would agree with Scott Wheeler’s assessment as shown in this tweet. Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen, acquired in the trade with the Ottawa Senators, was a teammate of Pettersson’s and often his winger.

But for as much discussion there was about trading these top picks, many are wondering if the Canucks could have traded down a little bit to pick up assets and still draft Pettersson later in the draft.

https://twitter.com/tryamking/status/878400101554593792

Some are saying that the Canucks are repeating last year’s blunder in picking Olli Juolevi over Matthew Tkachuk and picking Pettersson over a physically proven player such as Gabe Vilardi.

If that is the case, many Canucks fans will grow impatient as another division rival team in the Los Angeles Kings dazzle with Vilardi while Pettersson develops overseas in the SHL.

Many in Vancouver like this pick but some are dissatisfied with how high Pettersson was picked. Judge for yourselves after checking out what our Jeff Godley had to say about Elias Pettersson in our Draft Profiles!

Next: Draft Profile of C Elias Pettersson

On Saturday, the Vancouver Canucks have the remaining six rounds to pick from. They will hold six draft picks, including the 33rd and the 55th-overall selections. Exciting times are ahead for the rebuilding Canucks!