Canucks draft Elias Pettersson with 5th overall pick

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CHICAGO (NEWS 1130) – The Canucks improved their prospect pool this afternoon with the selection of Elias Pettersson with the fifth overall pick in the NHL draft. The forward played with Timra this season in Sweden’s second division, collecting 41 points in 43 games.

The Canucks had targeted the centermen for a while and even flew the youngster to Vancouver last month to interview him. He was taken out to dinner by the Sedin’s and shown around town. General Manger Jim Benning says it was very beneficial and they learned a lot about him.

“We really got to know him as a person. He is a real good kid and we were excited to draft him. He will have a couple of really good mentors in the Sedin twins. We are going to be patient with him, but we think we got a real good player going forward.”

Pettersson is 6’2 and 165-pounds and caught the eye of the Canucks while playing alongside Jonathan Dahlen, the prospect Vancouver acquired from Ottawa in the Alex Burrows trade.”

“He is a guy we honed in on when we watched him all year. We traded for Dahlen and they were teammates. We spent a lot of time watching them. We were looking for a playmaking centermen who makes players around him better and we feel he does that.”

Pettersson also represented Sweden at the 2017 World Junior Championship.

The New Jersey Devils kicked off the draft by picking Nico Hischier. He is the first Swiss born player to be taken number one in the draft. The Flyers selected Brandon Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick with the second pick. With the third overall selection, the Stars nabbed Finnish youngster Miro Heiskanen. The Avalanche addressed their defensive depth by picking defencemen Cale Makar with the 4th pick.

The remainder of the opening round can be seen on Sportsnet.

Rounds two through seven will be selected tomorrow morning. The Canucks will have the second pick in the second round.

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