When Elias Pettersson fractured his thumb, ending his stint at the World Hockey Championships, it seemed like it was the last we would hear about him until Canucks prospect development camp in July. Then reports surfaced on Wednesday out of Sweden about Pettersson. Big reports! Controversial reports!
According to these reports, Elias Pettersson might not play for the Canucks next season but instead return to the SHL for one more year.
If true, this is huge news that has a major impact on the Canucks’ plans for next season. There’s also a question of development: how much more can Pettersson learn from a league that he already led in scoring in both the regular season and playoffs? This has the potential to be a huge story.
Except, it really isn’t.
Here is the report out of Sweden: Henrik Evertsson, the general manager of the Växjö Lakers, still hopes that Pettersson will return next season.
That’s it.
“Hockey GM wants to keep good player” isn’t really a story, just like “dog bites man” isn’t a story. It’s not the least bit surprising: of course Evertsson hopes that Pettersson returns next season. He led the Lakers to the SHL Championship and their best hope for winning again is for Pettersson to return.
TSN 1040 had Mike Zanier, who is currently a broadcaster in Sweden, to talk about the supposed story. He provided a translation of Evertsson’s quote:
“Elias does not want to go the NHL just to fit in,” said Evertsson according to Zanier. “He’s got to go and lead the organization, both on and off the ice, because he’s going to be one of the franchise players. Unfortunately, Elias does not really know what it means.”
The Google translation of that last sentence suggests something closer to “I do not think that any of us, least of all Elias, knows what it means [to be a franchise player] and what is required of a person.”
“Therefore, I do not think it will be the world’s biggest surprise if he chooses to stay here in Vaxjo one more year,” he continued. “Get older, get stronger, and be prepared so when he does go over to the NHL, he’s ready.”
Evertsson added as justification for staying in the SHL, “He would be the SHL's ‘main guy’ from day one, a light version of what's later awaiting him in Vancouver. And it might not be so silly to practice that for a year.”
Sure, being the best player in the SHL for a season would be good practice for being the Canucks’ star player in the NHL. Good thing he’s already been the best player in the SHL for a season, then.
Again, this is the GM of the Lakers saying this. Of course he wants to convince Pettersson to stay in the SHL. Of course he wants to convince the Canucks that it would be a good idea. That does not mean that’s what Pettersson wants and it does not mean that’s what will happen.
On Twitter, Växjö fans dismissed the report as “wishful thinking” from Evertsson and “click-bait.”
Pettersson has shown every indication that he’s hungry to play in the NHL and hasn’t shown any desire to delay his debut. Recently at the World Hockey Championships he responded to questions about his weight by saying, “There are many NHL players who weigh as much as I do, why would not I be able to play there?”
That’s not to say that Pettersson isn’t aware that he needs to improve in that area. In an interview with The Hockey News during the SHL playoffs, he said, “I want to play in the NHL, but physically I’m not ready for it. I’m aware of that and I’m working on it every day. I want to get more power in my legs and be stronger all-around in my body.”
That’s what his summer training will be focussed on: getting stronger. That doesn’t mean he plans to return to the SHL next season.
Zanier added that Pettersson said that “Sam Hallam, the coach in Växjö last year, is the best coach he ever had and really enjoyed playing with him.”
Again, that says nothing about whether Pettersson wants to return to the SHL or not, just that he liked his coach. I like Hallam too, from what I’ve seen, partly because he uses some colourful language on the bench and it’s entertaining, but also because he's done an impressive job with the Lakers. A forward-thinking NHL GM might look to poach Hallam from the SHL.
Asked what Pettersson might be thinking, Zanier could only speculate.
“I’ve never met the kid, so I can’t say,” he said. “I’m not really sure, it’s hard to say if his confidence is ready to take the next step, and I’m not sure how his English is either. He might not be 100% secure in everything to jump over. Like I said, I’m just speculating, I have no idea.”
Pettersson’s English is just fine, for the record.
Here’s the thing: Pettersson could very well decide to return to the SHL for another year. He might feel like he needs another year in Sweden before he’s ready for the NHL. Perhaps he shows up to camp and he’s put on 50 pounds from eating pure lard all summer in a misguided attempt to add weight.
It’s all just speculation. And the GM of the Växjö Lakers wanting his star player to return to the SHL for one more season is not a story.
