Vancouver Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson breaks franchise record for points by a rookie, previously set by Pavel Bure and Ivan Hlinka.
Elias Pettersson has had Vancouver Canucks fans on the edge of their seats all season long.
With notable moments such as his goal on his first shot, to ten goals in his first ten games, with two five point games, and many more. There is no doubt he has had a very impressive rookie campaign so far.
During Monday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks, Pettersson had the secondary assist on Markus Granlund‘s second period goal to achieve his 61st point. With that, he broke the franchise record for most points in a rookie season — which was previously held by Pavel Bure and Ivan Hlinka.
Hlinka posted 23 goals and 60 points over 72 games in the 1981-82 season, in which he and Jiri Bubla became the first two Czech players to be in the Stanley Cup finals, where the Canucks fell to the New York Islanders in four games.
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Hlinka only played one more season in the NHL, until back problems led him back to Europe — where he had another short playing stint before becoming a coach.
In the 1991-92 season, Pavel Bure scored 34 goals and 60 points in only 65 games. Bure was the electric “Russian “Rocket”, widely regarded one of the best Canucks in franchise history. Bure would proceed to post 60 goals and 110 points in 83 games in the following season.
Pettersson has easily been the Canucks best offensive player, leading in goals, assists, points, power play goals and points, game-winning goals and shooting percentage among all players in the franchise this season.
In a rookie year alongside the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, Carter Hart and Miro Heiskanen, Pettersson has been considered as the favourite to win the Calder trophy for rookie of the year. He also leads all rookies in goals, assists and points.
At this point in the season, Pettersson has 27 goals and 61 points over 62 games. If he concludes the rest of the season at this pace, he would finish with 70 points over 71 games, but had he played a full 82 game schedule, this would put him on pace for 81 points.
With last season’s rookie campaign of Brock Boeser, and with what could potentially be a big year from Quinn Hughes next season, it is safe to say the Canucks fan base has had quite a lot of talent to talk about, building for an exciting new core.
Pettersson could be the best rookie the Canucks have seen so far in their history. With how his career is beginning, one can expect that Pettersson will go down as the best Canucks of all time. Only time will tell.
With nine games left in the season, Pettersson still has time to extend his point total and record for future rookies to beat. Nonetheless, Pettersson has had quite the rookie campaign despite missing 11 games with injuries.