One of the biggest question marks facing this franchise: Can Pettersson fully convert to being an NHL C? Here's an audio clip with JD Burke discussing exactly this:
https://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040/burke-can-pettersson-play-centre-for-the-canucks-1.1154278
I've also done some digging on his points spread in Allsvenskan. He registered at least a point in 29 of his total 43 games played. Of those 29 games, another centre contributed at least a point on the same play, or plays (multi-point games). This means that there were only 16 games where we can be reasonably sure that he was centering his line. Now of course, this comes with two major caveats:
- Just because another centre didn't figure into the scoring play, doesn't mean that one wasn't on the ice at the time.
- The games where he went scoreless, he could have played centre. That would be 14 of the 43 games.
Basically, we can only be sure (reasonably) that he played C in a 1/3~ of his total Allsvenskan games. This is his draft year, where he projected primarily to be a centre.
----------------------------------------
The other side of this are the requirements to be a C in the NHL. The projection goes something akin to:
1. Good at faceoffs
2. Strength to check down low
3. Read Dzone assignments
4. Navigate the neutral zone with the puck
5. Feed your wingers
6. Play in open ice more than the boards
7. Must have drive to backcheck
8. Go to the net
9. Play higher in the ozone
10. Support wingers on the offensive boards
And more...
Of those many facets, I think Pettersson will struggle with #2, #8 and #10. Is that enough to keep him away from centre ice?
Also, it was noted that even though his face off volume was limited, he still won a requisite number of draws. 51% I believe. This is why I think he can adapt to the face off circle. It's the other aspects of being a C that I'd be more interested in evaluating here. Pettersson needs to be a C for VAN.