Canucks: Elias Pettersson has emerged as an elite superstar

Elias Pettersson was on the verge of stardom before the 2019-20 season. The Vancouver Canucks star has quickly proven he deserves to be mentioned among the NHL’s elite players.

The Vancouver Canucks have been waiting for years to make it to the postseason. It has been a long four years for them, as the 2014-15 season is the last time they’ve made it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But thanks to Elias Pettersson, the Canucks are looking like a playoff team.

Pettersson was already among the NHL’s best players before this season began. His rookie season was quite impressive, as he won the Calder Trophy by picking up 159 of the 171 first-place votes. Pettersson pushed a point per game pace with 28 goals and 66 points in 71 games while making an appearance in the All-Star game.

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It’s remarkable how quickly he has developed. Last season, Pettersson proved he was one of the NHL’s most dynamic players with the puck. His offense alone put him among the best players in the league. However, Pettersson has taken a significant step forward so far this season. Thus far, he has proven he already might be among the NHL’s elite.

5v5 Offense

Pettersson was a human highlight reel last season. He has found a way to be even more impressive this season. Through 15 games, he has 20 points. 12 of those points have come at five-on-five. 11 of those points are either goals or primary assists. Despite only having one secondary assist, which is absurdly low for someone with Pettersson’s playmaking abilities, he’s fourth in the league in five-on-five assists.

If you look at his rate stats, he’s easily among the best offensive forwards in the NHL. Here’s where he ranks through 15 games among the 255 forwards who have played at least 150 minutes.

• 5v5 goals per hour: 1.28 (41st)
• 5v5 primary assists per hour: 2.23 (2nd)
• 5v5 total assists per hour: 2.55 (3rd)
• 5v5 points per hour 3.83 (4th)

Now, those stats do come with an asterisk. The Canucks have an on-ice shooting percentage of 14.81% with Pettersson on the ice. That’s simply unsustainably high. However, given how many scoring chances and high-danger chances Vancouver generates with Pettersson on the ice, his five-on-five numbers should remain among the NHL’s elite.

Power Play

Pettersson was a freaking cheat code on the power play last season. Despite playing on a Canucks team that finished with the 22nd-ranked power play in the NHL, he ranked just outside of the top 50 forwards in points per hour on the power play. Vancouver’s next highest-ranked player was Bo Horvat, who finished 123rd out of 214.

In 15 games this season, Pettersson has eight power play points. Much like his play at five-on-five, most of those points have been primary points, with two goals and five primary assists. Pettersson’s always been a lethal threat on the power play with his shot, playmaking, and vision. The Canucks have added players like J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes, which has given the power play a boost. Pettersson’s terrific work there is finally getting the recognition it warrants.

Defense

His biggest improvement has come in his two-way play. Which, considering how much Pettersson’s offense has improved, is really saying something. The Canucks are among the top teams in the NHL in just about any underlying stat you can think of. All of these stats are as of Nov. 6 and are at five-on-five.

• CorsiFor percentage: 4th
• FenwickFor percentage: 3rd
• ShotsFor percentage: 4th
• GoalsFor percentage: 2nd
• Expected GoalsFor percentage: 4th
• ScoringChances For percentage: 12th

Pettersson has been a huge reason for their impressive numbers. The Canucks are a much better team when he’s on the ice, and his relative possession metrics prove this. They allow fewer shot attempts and create more when he’s on the ice.

While Pettersson has an abnormally high 108.6 PDO (on-ice shooting percentage plus on-ice save percentage), his play on both ends has warranted his impressive underlying stats. Right now, he should be in the Selke Trophy discussion and given his impressive play on both ends of the ice, he has a strong case for being the favorite to win the award.

Pettersson might not win it because his offense is so great, it’s hard to appreciate his defense. Sidney Crosby and Joe Thornton have suffered from the same curse. But with voters getting smarter and underlying stats becoming more prominent, Pettersson has a chance to be the first Canucks skater to win the Selke since Ryan Kesler in 2011.

The season is long, but Vancouver is looking like a playoff team so far. If the Canucks come anywhere close to the playoffs, Pettersson should not only get Selke Trophy votes, but Hart Trophy votes as well.