Report: Canucks’ Pettersson gets called to camp

Vancouver Canucks 5th overall selection Elias Pettersson is one step closer to representing his home country of Sweden in the 2018 World Junior Championships after receiving an invitation to the team’s evaluation camp later this month.

While the news is hardly surprising given Pettersson’s skill and pedigree, it  was confirmed by CanucksArmy.com blogger and prospects insider Ryan Biech late last night. Interestingly, fellow Canucks prospect and Swedish Elite League linemate Jonathan Dahlen will not be at camp and is ineligible to join the team due to his age. If Dahlen were just 11 days younger the two would have an opportunity to star on the world stage but, as it is, the younger Pettersson will have to make due on his own.

While it’s too early to call the young centerman a lock to make the team, there’s a very good chance that he not only sticks, but that he plays a large role on the team as well. Pettersson is an elite level playmaker and goal scorer who was been compared to both Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom and Nashville Predators star Filip Forsberg in the past. Can he live up to the hype? This year’s upcoming World Junior Championships could be his first real “showcase” event. Stay tuned, Canucks fans.