SCoC Draft Profiles: Could Elias Pettersson fall to Boston?

Player Analysis:

Pettersson is like a number of players in this draft in that he ended up having a fantastic draft year and really showing what he can do, and what he can do is uh...

Everything. He can do everything.

Pettersson exploded this year in the Allsvenskan, getting 41 points in 43 games with a mix of speed, fancy stickwork, patience to split and disrupt defenses, laser-accurate passing, and a deceptive shot that had nearly everyone in the 2nd-tier of swedish hockey bamboozled and often down a goal against him. He played a lights-out, two way game with all the flair of a near-PPG player.

In short, this kid is talented.

So what’s the catch? What makes a player like him even a possibility for Boston?

Well...he’s scrawny. Currently clocking in at 161 lbs., he’s often found himself getting muscled off of pucks in international competition, relying on stickwork and speed to get through defenses and offenses respectively. Granted, it’s doing him pretty well right now and it’s not like he’s shying away from contact, and even better he’s put on 10 pounds of muscle since last year, but he’s a 6’2 guy. He’s got some filling out to do.

Second is that he’s not really been able to show off what he’s capable of at bigger dances, with his WJC being somewhat disappointing. He’ll have a whole year or two at the big swedish dance with the SHL’s Växjö Lakers.

Anybody who drafts him will have to come to terms with the fact that regardless, he’s at least a couple of years off for some weight training and hopefully a stronger showing in international competition. However, the talent he shows is just far too matured and incredible to pass up if the Bruins get the opportunity to get him.

Stats:

Age: 18

Position: C/LW

Height: 6’2

Weight: 161 lbs.

Player Rankings:

• Ranked #5 by Hockeyprospect.com
• Ranked #20 by ISS Hockey
• Ranked #8 by Future Considerations
• Ranked #11 by McKeen's Hockey
• Ranked #2 by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)