Vancouver Canucks Sign Elias Pettersson To Entry-Level Contract

The Vancouver Canucks signed defense prospect Elias Pettersson to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday. Pettersson’s deal starts next season, CapFriendly reports, and carries a cap hit of $870,000.

Completely unrelated to Vancouver’s superstar center of the same name, Vancouver selected Pettersson, 19, with the 80th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft. He had a solid post-draft year, playing mostly in the SHL (as compared to Swedish juniors) for most of the season. In 43 games with Örebro HK, Pettersson recorded a goal and six assists in a very limited role, as well as three assists in seven games for Sweden at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships.

Pettersson is a very intriguing prospect at a position of need for Vancouver. The left-shot blue liner is a very fluid skater and strong in transition, posting solid defensive numbers wherever he plays. Standing at 6-foot-3 and nearly 200 pounds, there are few size concerns with Pettersson as well and his game seems rather adaptable to the NHL.

Vancouver did not initially release the terms of Pettersson’s contract, but general manager Patrik Allvin did have this to say:

We are very happy to have Elias sign with us as he takes another step forward in his hockey career. We really liked the year he had on the ice in both representing his country at the World Juniors and playing important minutes in the SHL. Our development team is excited about the opportunity to continue to work with him and create a stronger relationship and partnership, building upon his already strong desire to learn and compete.

The Canucks will likely return Pettersson to Örebro on loan for 2023-24, giving him another year of development in his home country.