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Best Player Outside The NHL? |
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The need to label a player as the “Best Player Outside The NHL” is constant. “Best Goalie, Best Player, Best Defenseman” etc. Whether it is to hype up a prospect or a potential free agent, the ending is the same. It’s a subjective label that is almost impossible to quantify. Despite some of my pessimism, I can’t disagree that it is a fun exercise and one that can yield results.
Elias Pettersson was selected in last year’s draft 5th overall by the Vancouver Canucks. He is having the kind of year that players could only dream of. The 19 year old currently leads the Elitserien in scoring. A 19 year old is leading arguably the fourth best league in the world in scoring (NHL/KHL/AHL). Do you know when the last time that happened was? Never. Though Peter Forsberg gave it a good go being 3 points off.
Now Sweden, despite being one of the best hockey nations in the world, has never really produced the best forwards. Despite extreme success at all levels, the great Swedish forwards have always been just scratching at the top levels. Peter Forsberg, The Sedin’s, Daniel Alfredsson, Mats Sundin and Nicklas Backstrom have flirted at various times with being the best player in the NHL, but I don’t think any of them ever quite reached that level. Not to say Pettersson will, but when you look at how he is tracking, he might be the best hope for a Swedish scoring superstar.
Elias Pettersson currently is set to pass Peter Forsberg’s legendary 48 points by an U20 player. Here is Pettersson’s currently league leading stats.
25gp 11g 24a 35p
Which happens to be an astonishing 13 points over the second highest scoring player on his team.
Comparable Swedes
Draft Year +1 – Peter Forsberg – 39gp 23g 25a 48p
Draft Year +1 - Henrik Sedin – 50gp 9g 38a 47p
Draft Year +1 - Daniel Sedin – 50gp 16g 26a 45p
Draft Year +1 - Markus Naslund – 39gp 22g 18a 40p
Draft Year + 1 - Nicklas Backstrom – 45gp 12g 28a 40p
With just 14 games left to catch Forsberg, he’d have to maintain a PPG pace to tie him. He’s currently at a 1.40PPG pace, so one would assume he can keep it going. If Pettersson ties or passes Forsberg for the most points by an U20 scorer in the Elitserien, what does that mean? In Sweden, Peter Forsberg is the closest thing to an athletic god as you can get. Despite Lidstrom probably being the best Swedish player of all time (in my opinion at least), Forsberg still seems to be higher in regard in Sweden. Probably because he was such a heart and soul player versus the quiet competency of Lidstrom.
Pettersson will be participating in the U20 WJC for a second straight year and will be expected to be the offensive catalyst. Team Sweden, like usual, is near the top of the favourites for the tournament. Pettersson could also end up playing for Team Sweden in the Olympics. Which for a 19 year old would be insane. There really isn’t any better option for Sweden.
I waited to write this because I hadn’t actually caught him in a game yet. I don’t watch a lot of the Elitserien as the time differential is difficult to manage these days. I did however get to see his amazing performance yesterday against Farjestad. Vaxjo (Pettersson’s squad) won 5-4 on a four point night by the young Swede. He was fantastic to watch. His vision was really noticeable. He doesn’t need to look at players to know exactly where their stick is. I also liked that he follows a lot of Swedish tradition with smaller and simpler plays. He doesn’t try to dangle every defender in his way, he just makes smart passes and following excellent positioning. After the game I checked his stats and couldn’t believe he had only been on the ice for 7 goals against the entire season.
Whether Pettersson passes Forsberg’s record, whether he dominates the WJC or makes the Olympics. Or does none of these things…he’s a top prospect and the Canucks look they might have finally found their Henrik Sedin replacement.
Thanks for reading.
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