*5v5 P1/60 - 25SH%, no one around him is even at 20.
Summary: It's well deserved, he's ridiculous. He delivers, he doesn't create and he's already mentally a veteran.
It's a really cool stat, because really, anyone who has watched the Canucks have seen how incredibly important Pettersson is for them to be a legit, offensive threat. It's not a coincidence Pettersson has so many "primary points" as to speak, when you watch him play. He's usually a deliverer, not an upbuilder. He finds the solution and he's a sublime line carrier, if you give him the puck and he's really good at being open for it. He's a great skater, but he sees great value in not always skating straight forward. When he gets the puck, time stops in the Canucks stands.
As for those grumbling about his abnormal shooting percentage, I'll say this. It has only gone up, up and up, every year he has played hockey from junior level and it has been at a shooting percentage you wouldn't believe to be sustainable. 37% in the last SHL playoffs? 22% in the regular season? I'm not kidding. "SHL goalies, pfff!" Then you watch his old highlights. Snipe sublime. Yet here he is, improving his old records, shooting even more accurate, because you know what? He grinds shooting after every practice, apparently he hasn't stopped, because why would he? Because he thinks he's not good enough. He always wants to be better, because he knows he can be.
Apart from his jawdropping hockey IQ, accurate passes, lethal shot whichever variety, elite skating (he was apparently as deceptively fast as any other fast guy, which was seen as one of his "weaknesses"), Datsyukian deking, effective defensive work, you have his maturity at that age, to realize he's only doing his job to the best of his ability. He's on quote enjoying doing his work with his teammates, while understanding the price you have to pay to do it. That's incredibly mature answers from him at that age and that's only a piece of the puzzle, that makes him stand out.
And then add he's so honest and straight in interviews. Canucks reporters are already complaining he's just staring at them, if they ask an especially ignorant or stupid question. Bottom line, I'm sold as a huge homer. He's disrespecting mediocre journalists? And he's Swedish? Awmagod!
When you see his game and he tells you his big idol was Datsyuk, you kind of get why. Only his potential is greater than Datsyuk, because his shot is unbelievable and he seems to have even more vision, I mean... how can you not be a huge fan boy?
Pettersson's ceiling is the best player in the game, his cellar are injuries. I've watched hockey for almost 35 years and I've never been as intrigued by a player as Pettersson. Swedes are never this good, this early, including any Swede entering the league. Pettersson is not the best player in the league, bute he's already making a name for himself in bold letters. His current curve is astonishing, I can really get the "Alien" nickname. He's not the average human in his package.
He might never reach the best, but oh boy is he interesting to watch. When I think of Pettersson, I think of the NES Ice Hockey game from 1987, where he's the slim guy, only he shoots like the fatty, with slim accuracy.
