Elias Pettersson

Pettersson couldn't quite match the career highs of 39 goals and 102 points he set in 2022-23, but with 34 markers and 89 points through 82 regular-season outings last year, his latest performance left fantasy managers with plenty to be happy about. Looking ahead, Pettersson is gearing up for the first campaign of his eight-year, $92.8 million deal, and given that he's just 25, there's every reason to believe he'll be one of Vancouver's top offensive threats throughout that deal. Finishing with over a point per game seems like a reasonable expectation for the 2024-25 campaign, but reaching the 40-goal milestone for the first time in his career would likely require him to be a bit more selfish with the puck. While he had a strong 16.4 shooting percentage last season and his career average is similar at 16.6, Pettersson logged 207 shots last season, putting him in a four-way tie for 68th in the league. Perhaps he'll eventually start to fire the puck more, but his floor appears to be a 30-goal, 80-point center.

In his fifth NHL campaign, Pettersson finally broke through, emerging as a fantastic two-way forward with a 39-goal, 102-point season. Encouragingly, his 15.2 shooting percentage in 2022-23 was actually the lowest of his career -- his goal output was instead bolstered by him exceeding three shots per game. The Swede also had nine shorthanded points and 25 power-play points while also chipping in 89 blocked shots. Pettersson's placement in Vancouver has kept him a bit under the radar, but he's set to be an early-round pick in virtually all fantasy formats while serving as the most dynamic player in the Canucks' lineup this year. Still just 24 years old and with room to grow, Pettersson should continue to be a premier fantasy asset for years to come. Don't hesitate to spend a first-round pick on Pettersson on draft day.

Pettersson's production a season ago was just fine, as he closed the campaign with career-best marks in both goals (32) and points (68), but fantasy managers were expecting more. Instead, J.T. Miller was the breakout star of the Vancouver offense, finishing with 99 points, good for ninth in the league. Pettersson has been frequently banged up early in his NHL career, so the fact he was able to play 80 of the Vancouver's 82 games was a very positive sign. The Swede looks like a clear buy-low candidate from a fantasy perspective should he dip in drafts this coming fall. The talent isn't in question, while Pettersson will turn just 24 years old in mid-November.

Those who selected Pettersson in fantasy leagues got burned last season, as the young Swedish star played just 26 games (10 goals, 21 points) before a wrist injury sidelined him for Vancouver's final 30 contests. The injury was serious enough that Pettersson couldn't shoot a puck for the better part of four months, but he is expected to be fully healthy for training camp. A remarkably consistent performer throughout the early portion of his career, Pettersson has racked up 65 goals and 153 points over his first 165 NHL games. As an added bonus, Pettersson is also one of the league's top power-play performers. This could be a rare chance to get him at a minor discount in fantasy leagues this fall. That opportunity may not come around again.

Pettersson put together another excellent campaign in 2019-20, matching his 66-point output from his rookie year in three fewer games. The Swedish center is one of the NHL's bright young stars, equipped with the talent to both score and create chances for his teammates at high levels. With a plus-16 rating, Pettersson also showed more capability on defense in 2019-20, as did a much-improved Canucks team in general. Fantasy managers should expect a near point-per-game pace from Pettersson in 2020-21, who is also likely to chip in 20-plus power-play points in a full season. He'll be worth a pick within the first three rounds on draft day.

Fresh off taking home the Calder Trophy, Pettersson, 20, will have his hands full trying to one-up what was undoubtedly one of the more impressive rookie campaigns in recent memory. In his debut season, Pettersson led the Canucks in scoring with 66 points, finishing with 28 goals and 38 assists. A dynamic finisher, Pettersson rarely allows a scoring opportunity to pass him by, which led to him scoring on 19.4 percent of shots during his rookie season. Even if Vancouver winds up turning in yet another mediocre season, barring injury, you can bet Pettersson will reside atop the team's points list. Don't be shy to snag the sophomore with an early-round pick.

Pettersson is regarded as one of the best young forwards to hail from Sweden and comes to North America after scoring 56 points in 44 games for Vaxjo, including 19 points in 13 games in the playoffs en route to winning the championship. He swept the awards as well, being named the league's MVP, playoff MVP and Rookie of the Year along with a gold medal from the World Championships. Pettersson has game-breaking offensive ability with the only concern being his lack of strength, but that has never been a major impediment to elite players. He's expected to be a valuable addition to the Canucks top six, more likely as a second-line right winger than a center, and a strong candidate for the Calder Trophy. Fantasy owners looking for the league's next breakout star should keep an eye on Pettersson, who offers incredible upside.