Canucks top prospects week 21: Elias Pettersson makes history

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We are getting to that time of the year where the season ends for some of our prospects. Playoff excitement is building and Elias Pettersson had one incredible week.

Prospects sure are fun. So much potential, so much is unknown. These talented kids have not been worn down yet by the defensive systems of the NHL. When you have a good prospect pool like the Vancouver Canucks, it helps forget yet another awful week on the schedule.

Let’s get an update on the farm. Things could have been better in Utica. The Comets have won a single game in their last eight. With 15 games left on the schedule, I would like to see them string some wins together.

They are still holding onto a playoff spot, but the longer the slide continues, the greater the chance of keeping their playoff hopes out of their control. On top of that, teams entering the playoffs would like to have some momentum going in. I wouldn’t feel too confident if you are riding a losing streak into the playoffs.

I also learned about some minor news regarding our prospect pool. Despite how often I read the NHL CBA, I missed this important note about Rodrigo Abols. I am very glad Ryan Biech pointed this out today, to his chagrin. Abols hasn’t been a Canucks prospect since June of last year, so there was no point in keeping tabs on him. He had a good week too. Oh well.

I do find funny when you contrast Ty Ronning signing with the Rangers. That photo of Pat Quinn on the wall makes it all too perfect.

https://twitter.com/TyRonning7/status/970736617789915136

Playoffs around the corner

As always, I want to briefly go over the prospects who couldn’t crack the list this week. On Friday night, Kole Lind and the Kelowna Rockets officially eliminated the Kamloops Blazers from the WHL playoffs. The Rockets have three games left on the schedule and wait for the playoff matchups to be set after March 18. Lind was rather quiet this week, with a goal and three assists in a trio of games.

Over in the OHL, Matt Brassard scored a goal and added two apples in two games. He and the Oshawa Generals will be in the playoffs this year. Brett McKenzie and Jonah Gadjovich will join Owen Sound in the postseason as well as Michael DiPietro‘s Windsor Spitfires. All three OHL squads have a few games before their regular season ends on the same date as the WHL.

TPS Turku finished the regular season with the second best record in Liiga. They have a bye to the quarter-finals as they wait for the wild card round to conclude. For now, Petrus Palmu and Olli Juolevi will have to sit tight and wait.

Let’s get to the top three performances of the week. Games were won, history was made and Canucks fans are going to have another reason to brag about their prospects.

No. 3 – C/LW Jonathan Dahlen (Timrå IK, Allsvenskan)

Continuing with our playoff theme, Timrå is in an exciting spot. For finishing in the top two of the Allsvenskan, they get to participate in the finals. By winning this best-of-five against Leksands IF, they can make it to the SHL qualifiers. If they make those qualifiers and can beat out one of the bottom two teams, Timrå can be promoted while that losing team is relegated to the Allsvenskan.

Jonathan Dahlen and his team will want to win the Allsvenskan Finals. This puts them up against the worst team in the SHL. Losing means Timrå would have to beat out the remaining Allsvenskan teams in another playoff team just to meet the second worst SHL team in the promotion qualifiers.

Now that you get how the playoffs can play out for Dahlen, we can dive into the this first series. Timrå took the first game in a thrilling 4-3 win in overtime. Dahlen scored a goal and added a pair of assists. Not a bad start for the playoffs. The series can go as far March 17 if necessary. Here is Dahlen’s goal and a terrific assist from the game.

No. 2 – C Adam Gaudette (Northeastern Huskies, NCAA)

Northeastern wrapped up their quarterfinal series against Cale Makar and the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). Adam Gaudette and his squad only needed two games to advance, sweeping the Minutemen 3-2 and 7-2.

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The first game was a little misleading. It gave the impression that the eighth seed Minutemen might make the series interesting with the close score. Gaudette had only one assist in that first game. Yesterday, the Huskies came to play, scoring a touchdown for the home fans. Gaudette picked up a goal and an assist and that game was long over after the second period.

Next weekend will be the Hockey East Semifinals and Finals. No more series. These games are single-elimination and count for the most. Northeastern has drawn the Providence Friars, the third seed in the Hockey East division.

According to the Hockey East release, Providence and Northeastern have not played a playoff game against each other since 1994. The Friars are no strangers to the semifinals, with their fifth appearance since 2011. Northeastern did not win either either regular season game against Providence this season, so this matchup will be interesting.

Playing out a scenario where Northeastern wins, they advance to the Finals, facing the winner of Boston University and Boston College. What a storyline to follow if we can see a rematch of the Beanpot Final next week. I want to remind you that even if Northeastern loses next weekend, they could still be named to the D1 playoff tournament. We wish Adam Gaudette and Northeastern good luck. Go get ’em!

Gaudette's 30th of the season that made it 3-0:#Ho8ey | #HowlinHuskies pic.twitter.com/7UIC7HpMMX
— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) March 11, 2018

No. 1 – C/RW Elias Pettersson (Växjö Lakers, SHL)

I honestly could not think of a better way to start this section. We all know why we are here. What this all built up to. There is no one that can encapsulate this feeling better than Bruce Buffer.

Unless you have been living under a rock this week, Elias Pettersson made freaking history! In his final three games of the season, Pettersson scored thrice (yes, I’m bringing out the word thrice) to cap off a five-point week.

However, nothing was more special than the moment he took the top spot on the list of all time under-20 SHL seasons. His 56 points in 44 games is a testament to how hard and successful this season has become. You have been hearing all about the famous names he has passed all season.

Thomas Gradin, Markus Naslund, Nicklas Backstrom, Peter Forsberg and Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Making that one final push to pass Kent Nilsson was a magical moment. I think having a crowd cheering and singing your name because of what you accomplished is something truly special.

Before that second game, Pettersson had the luxury of spreading his three required points over two games. Fortunately for us, that didn’t matter. Pettersson had two goals and two assists, rocking the roof off. Additionally, his name trended number one in Sweden that day. Instead of the usual GIFs, video really captures the emotion in the building.

Highlights of Elias Pettersson's two goals for @vaxjolakers today, including his coaches congratulating him and the home crowd serenading him.

EP becomes the SHL scoring leader (now at 55 points) and takes over as the all-time U20 points leader. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/NVPGBrRM1p
— Grady Sas (@GradySas) March 8, 2018

But wait, there’s more

During Växjö’s final game of the regular season, Pettersson cemented his spot for the league lead in scoring. It’s only fitting that his final point of the season is this beautiful power play goal.

Moreover, I really could watch Pettersson highlights for hours on end. Going into the SHL playoffs, Växjö heads straight to the quarterfinals as the number one seed. They get their well deserved rest as they wait for the Round of 16 to play out. We won’t know Pettersson’s opponent until those best-of-three series conclude.

Furthermore, Pettersson could receive some more recognition at the end of the season. As Daniel Wagner illustrates, the players vote for an award called the Guldjälmen (Gold Helmet). This is the MVP of the league and if it sounds familiar, Anton Rodin has won this award before. With the way Petterson is playing, he could win this award.

For now, the focus will be on the playoffs. Växjö is aiming for their first championship title since 2015. Every Canuck fan around the world will be cheering for their success. When that’s all said and done, Pettersson may play for Sweden in this year’s World Championships in May. As a matter of fact, Sweden took the gold last year and will look to repeat.

Before I let you go

Normally, I am the first person to temper expectations. To plead you to pump the breaks. And I stand by keeping reasonable expectations for nearly every single Canucks prospect. But, Elias Pettersson has made it clear to me that he is an exception.

He didn’t just have a great season. It was phenomenal. Pettersson’s rookie year in the SHL was better than I could have possibly imagined. Vancouver Canucks fans have had very little to be happy about this year. We had a fun rookie season from Wyatt Arndt’s client, Brock Boeser, whose year was unfortunately cut short. We can be excited about Kole Lind, Jonathan Dahlen and Adam Gaudette, but the best part of the year outside the NHL has always been Elias Pettersson.

Pettersson shows you what you can get from tanking, even when the system is so broken and punishes so many bad teams that need help. Despite the hurdles, the NHL still rewards losing and even if the Canucks’ front office are taking the path of greatest resistance, they are accumulating talent. The hype around Pettersson is very real and if holding that over the heads of other fanbases is your thing, then go right ahead.

Honestly, there aren’t too many prospects outside the NHL that are on the same level as Pettersson. We could discuss Eeli Tolvanen, but I would rather enjoy the moment. Pettersson is going to be a great NHL player for years to come. Whether he is a centre or a winger, he will be fun to watch as he makes his impact on the Vancouver Canucks.

Next: Vancouver Canucks need to blow up the defence

Fortunately, it won’t be long before Pettersson makes his way to the NHL next season. I don’t expect a Boeser-like season, but hey, it wouldn’t be the first time he shattered expectations. With that, we can direct ourselves to the most important question of all.

I know every single Vancouver Canucks fan is. We are ready and we are patiently waiting.

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