Vancouver, BC – The hockey world often reminds us that making it to the National Hockey League is a monumental challenge, but cementing your place there is even tougher. This enduring truth is currently being put to the test by the Vancouver Canucks` promising young defencemen, Elias Pettersson and Tom Willander.
Elias Pettersson, 21, defied expectations last season by spending half of his rookie year in the NHL, his first in North America. Now, he`s determined to secure a permanent spot with the Canucks. Joining him in this quest is 20-year-old Tom Willander, fresh from college hockey and aiming to make the NHL roster as a pure rookie. Intriguingly, these two big, mobile Swedish talents, considered among the Canucks` top five prospects, are set to form the top defensive pairing for Vancouver`s upcoming prospect games against their Kraken counterparts in Seattle.
Mikael Samuelsson, Canucks player development coach and a fellow Swede, reflected on the “hard to make, harder to stay” adage.
“It depends on the mindset,” Samuelsson explained. He noted that Pettersson, despite a surprising NHL debut last year, remains humble and focused on continuous development. “He knows he`s not done with development. Petey probably surprised people last year, including himself. But he’s like, ‘I’m not done.’ He’s humble. He plays within his limits. He doesn`t think he is something he’s not. He knows his role and he knows what he’s good at.”
For Willander, Samuelsson emphasizes the need to prove himself immediately.
“If he manages to take his time, and doesn’t just expect to make the NHL right away, (and) wants to develop himself on a daily basis, I think he could be the guy who’s here to stay as well. He has the talent to play, but it`s all between your ears from that point on. It’s mindset.”
Both players are unequivocally focused on earning a place on the Canucks` blue line, where there`s potential room for one or even both to join a talented defensive corps led by Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek. The training camp is set to commence in Penticton, B.C.
While Pettersson holds a slight advantage with a year of NHL experience (28 games), Willander, an 11th-overall draft pick two years ago, brings a crucial asset: he`s a natural right-shot defenceman, a role where the Canucks currently have fewer options beyond Hronek and Tyler Myers.
Their partnership isn`t new; Pettersson and Willander previously played together on Sweden`s world junior team. They even recently teamed up (and lost) in a casual intra-squad tennis match. “I had never touched a tennis racket before, so I wouldn’t say it was fully fair,” Willander quipped after a practice in Abbotsford. “But now I`m in. I`m in the game now.”
Willander expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of an NHL pairing with Pettersson.
“I would love to pair with him (in the NHL). I think he’s a great hockey player and definitely the type of defenceman that I think is very easy to play with… A defence-first type of guy who makes the first half of the ice a lot easier to manage, and you can kind of build off that.”
Both defencemen see themselves as “defence-first” players, though Willander`s higher offensive potential was evident in his draft position. Pettersson`s physicality, a key factor in his NHL call-up last season, complements Willander`s game. They are both known for their physical strength and exceptional skating.
“We haven’t talked about it but I know for sure that’s the goal,” Pettersson affirmed regarding their shared NHL aspirations. “That’s what we both want. I’m going to come in with the same mindset I had last year in training camp. I’m kind of coming in ready… I knew what I`m good at and I don`t try to do too much out there. I try to do the things I`m good at.”
Pettersson`s journey included 2.5 seasons in the Swedish Hockey League before his North American debut, initially expected to be a full AHL season. Willander, after two seasons with Boston University, signed with the Canucks in May following some contract negotiation delays. This delay, however, allowed him to play for Sweden`s national team, offering valuable exposure to NHL-level play and pace.
Willander acknowledged the jump from college to pro hockey.
“When you play with better players, there are some things that are a bit different. Defending is harder, but I think parts of the offensive game are a lot easier because you get the puck quicker and earlier, so you really have more time than you would have maybe playing at the college level. At least, that`s what I felt.”
The competitive spirit between the two is palpable. Willander noted,
“I learned a lot from him, seeing him play. And I hope he picks something up from me; that`d be fun. I also think he has, like, a level of compete… he takes it seriously.”
Samuelsson agrees.
“Definitely, they can push each other. If you`re around good players, it`s always a good thing… And they will push each other. They will feed off each other, too, especially if they play together. They want to be the go-to pairing in this tournament… and then feed off that coming into main camp. So the answer is yes, they can push each other.”
The Canucks are clearly banking on this synergy.
