What I want for Christmas is a healthy Elias Pettersson

It is the Holiday Season and here at The Canuck Way, we are all putting together out Christmas lists. Elias Pettersson has been the pride and joy for Vancouver Canucks fans and we cannot imagine life without him. Let us hope he remains healthy.

What I want for Christmas is a healthy Elias Pettersson. Words cannot describe how good Pettersson has been for the Vancouver Canucks. He has wowed with the league with his skating. vision, hockey IQ, slick hands and his lethal shot. The electric rookie is already receiving endorsements as he appeared in a commercial for Capilano Audi.

It is hard to imagine life without him. Canucks fans endured that for six games when he suffered a head injury sustained on a hit from Florida’s Mike Matheson. The Canucks won two out of those six games and Pettersson’s absence was felt greatly.

At the time writing, Pettersson has 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points. He’s only played 31 games and if he wasn’t injured, who knows how many more points he would have. Pettersson is 12 points ahead of Ottawa’s Colin White in the rookie points race. He has seven more goals than Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk. So far, Pettersson is the clear favourite to win the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year.

Why I Want A Healthy Elias Pettersson

I really hope Pettersson doesn’t get hurt . Last year Brock Boeser’s rookie season was cut short when he hurt his back falling into the bench door. Boeser finished the season with 29 goals and 55 points. He was close to breaking Pavel Bure and Ivan Hilinka’s rookie records of 34 goals and 60 points. It was a shame that his season ended the way it did.

Pettersson is on pace for 85 points. That is 42 goals and 44 assists. Those numbers should shatter what Pavel Bure and Ivan Hilinka did. It would also just beat out Dale Tallon’s assist record set in the inaugural 1970-71 season.

It is not just about the records that want me to see Pettersson remain healthy, it is what he can do on the ice. He is just so exciting to watch and for the first time in a long time, I am excited to turn on a Canucks game.  Pettersson uses his silky hands to get around defenders and he wows the crowd in attendance. He knows where his teammates are for a pass and of course his shot strikes fear in opposing goalies. Defensively, Pettersson isn’t too bad either; he helps take the puck away from opponents and starts rushes up the ice.

He plays a big part in the Canucks offence and the power play. There is no doubt that he has been the Canucks best player all season. If he stays healthy, he can break Bure and Hlinka’s rookie record.

Let’s hope he can stay healthy because the Canucks need him on the ice and he brings us one thing: Hope.