The Vancouver Canucks are facing an unexpected dilemma: they don’t have enough Petterssons. Yes, you read that right — the Canucks currently boast a trio of Petterssons on their roster, but it seems like they could always use a few more.
Right now, the team features three Petterssons, two of whom are named Elias. These players are vital parts of the Canucks’ core: one is a star franchise forward (Elias “OG” Pettersson), another is a promising top-four defenseman (Marcus Pettersson), and the third (Elias “Junior” Pettersson) is a young prospect who made a smooth transition to the NHL as a 20-year-old. The team’s history with the Pettersson name has been pretty successful, with Elias “OG” leading all players from the 2017 NHL draft in points, and Elias “Junior” already showing signs of being a steal from the 2023 draft.
The Canucks’ track record of success with Petterssons is unblemished, and with the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching, there are plenty of Petterssons on the horizon. Should the Canucks go after more? Absolutely. Here’s a closer look at the Petterssons they could target at this year’s draft.
1. Liam Pettersson – LHD
Liam Pettersson, a 6’2”, left-shot defenseman, is widely considered the top Pettersson in the 2025 draft class. Playing for the Växjö Lakers in Sweden’s J20 Nationell league, Pettersson has demonstrated excellent mobility and offensive upside, with 21 points in 39 games. He even saw time in the SHL as an 18-year-old, which bodes well for his future.
Ranked 28th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Pettersson is projected to go in the third round. If the Canucks draft him, they would add yet another left-shot Pettersson to their defense lineup, bringing their total to three — far more than any other NHL team.
2. Ludvig Pettersson – RHD
Ludvig Pettersson, a 6’2”, right-shot defenseman from the Växjö Lakers, could complement Liam Pettersson on the Canucks’ blue line. Though he has played a more limited role, spending much of his time in Sweden’s under-18 leagues, he’s still an intriguing option for the Canucks to consider.
This Pettersson has yet to be ranked by NHL Central Scouting, and his junior league production is modest, but the potential for a pairing with his teammate Liam could create a solid defense corps in the future.
3. Hugo Pettersson – LW
Switching gears from defense, we have Hugo Pettersson, a 20-year-old left wing standing 6’0” and 192 lbs. While he’s a re-entry into the draft, Pettersson has shown great promise. He dominated in Sweden’s J20 Nationell, registering 9 goals and 13 points in just 8 games, and earned a promotion to the SHL, where he struggled to find ice time. However, after being loaned to Kalmar HC in Sweden’s second-tier league, Pettersson excelled with 10 goals and 19 points in 28 games.
Pettersson also represented Sweden’s U20 team, scoring 6 points in 8 games at international tournaments. Although he may not be worth a high-round pick, he could be a late-round gem or even a future free-agent signing to watch.
4. Melker Pettersson – LHD
Next, we have Melker Pettersson, a 6’4”, 209 lb defenseman who was the captain of the Växjö Lakers’ J20 Nationell team. While he’s more of a shutdown defender with limited offensive upside, his leadership and size could be valuable in the Canucks’ prospect pool.
Melker had a strong showing in the relegation round, helping the Lakers secure a 5-2-1 record with 7 points in 8 games. He also had a brief loan stint with Alvesta SK in the third-tier HockeyEttan, where he impressed with 4 points in 3 games. Though not a high-impact player, Melker’s grit and size could make him an intriguing depth option.
5. Rhys Pederson – LHD
Okay, so we’re stretching the boundaries of the Pettersson family tree now. Enter Rhys Pederson, a 6’4” defenseman from the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. Pederson’s 7 points in 57 games last season don’t jump off the page, but he’s known for his strong defensive game and solid instincts.
While he doesn’t carry the same offensive upside as some of the other players on this list, his size and defensive capabilities might be enough to make him a viable option in later rounds, especially if the Canucks are looking to bulk up their blue line with size and strength.
Conclusion: The Pettersson Pipeline
It’s clear that the Canucks’ success with the Pettersson name is no coincidence. With Elias “OG” Pettersson already a star, Elias “Junior” showing promise, and Marcus Pettersson providing solid defense, adding more Petterssons at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft could be the answer to the team’s future success.
Whether it’s the skilled Liam Pettersson, the gritty Ludvig, the two-way Hugo, the size of Melker, or even the defensive potential of Rhys Pederson, the Canucks have a wealth of options to continue their Pettersson tradition. After all, in the world of hockey, sometimes the best solution to a problem is simply to draft more Petterssons.
Leave a Reply