Canucks Coach Compares Pettersson to NHL Veteran Samuelsson in Pre-Season Observations

The Vancouver Canucks are in the midst of their pre-season preparations, with rookie defenseman Elias Pettersson catching the eye of Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. Known for his physical and abrasive playing style, the 20-year-old has drawn comparisons to former NHL player Ulf Samuelsson, who had a reputation as a tough and edgy competitor during his 16-year career. Samuelsson was also a teammate of Tocchet’s when they both played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“He looks like a little Ulf Samuelsson out there. Just the way he plays… a little abrasive,” Tocchet remarked at a morning skate held at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena in anticipation of their exhibition game against the Seattle Kraken.

Pettersson, selected by the Canucks in the third round of the 2022 draft, is part of a group of young prospects, eager to make an impact as Vancouver embarks on a six-game exhibition schedule. During the morning skate, Pettersson was partnered with Filip Hronek, and the two defensemen are likely to play together in the forthcoming matches.

Other seasoned players expected to be in the lineup include center J.T. Miller, wings Conor Garland, Brock Boeser, and Danton Heinen, as well as defensemen Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers. Notably absent from the game are defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Vincent Desharnais, and forwards Tanner Pearson and Jake DeBrusk.

Looking ahead, the Canucks will host additional games against the Edmonton Oilers in Abbotsford and will then play away matches against the Kraken, the Calgary Flames, before rounding off their pre-season with a home game against the Flames on October 9.

Tocchet emphasized the importance of hockey intelligence in his assessments, indicating that he holds value in decision-making and playing fundamentals. “Hockey IQ is big for me,” Tocchet stated, also noting the necessity of maintaining consistency and focus on foundational gameplay elements.

Pettersson previously played for Vasteras IK in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan league, where he recorded three goals and 14 points in 34 games. He also participated in eight matches with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks last season.

The Canucks continue to scrutinize the roster makeup as no definitive answers on available positions were provided by Tocchet, who stated, “there are spots open,” while also depicting the fluidity of roster decisions based on players’ performances.

Meanwhile, goaltender Kevin Lankinen recently joined the Canucks after signing a free-agent contract. Tocchet revealed uncertainty regarding Lankinen’s participation in the pre-season games, expressing a need to integrate him promptly into the schedule.