Canucks' Young Defenceman Draws Inspiration from Franchise Icon
In a scene reminiscent of a mentorship moment from a classic film, Vancouver Canucks defenceman Elias Pettersson recently found himself in the company of franchise legend Kevin Bieksa. The gathering took place on a sunny Sunday afternoon at a Kitsilano restaurant deck, where Bieksa held court with the young and impressionable Canucks blueliners, including Pettersson, Zeev Buium, and Tom Willander.
Wisdom from a Tenacious Veteran
Bieksa, known for his tenaciousness, toughness, and willingness to fight during his playing days, has transitioned into an educational and entertaining Hockey Night in Canada analyst. His insights into navigating the demanding NHL landscape proved invaluable to the rising stars. "I never thought I'd be in media," Bieksa once admitted, reflecting on his unexpected career path. "When I first stopped playing, I told myself I'm going to try everything once."
For Pettersson, this marked the first time meeting the Canucks icon. "It was great and actually the first time I met him," Pettersson shared after practice. "Great lunch. Great guy. We talked about everything—the new culture we're getting here on the team and the old stories he had." Notably, Bieksa even picked up the tab for the young defencemen.
Embracing a Physical Playing Style
At just 22 years old, Pettersson is too young to vividly recall Bieksa's pivotal role in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final run, but the legend's pugnacious reputation precedes him. "I would like to say I remember a lot, but I don't," Pettersson confessed. "But he was more like a player I want to be and I want to play hard. I haven't got into a fight this year, but I'm ready if it happens."
Pettersson's aggressive and improving game has been evident since his initial Canucks development camp, where he showcased strong skating, authoritative puck movement, and heavy hits. "I always had that competitiveness and wanted to be involved in everything that happens out there," he emphasized.
Learning from On-Ice Experiences
A notable example of Pettersson's physical play occurred last year in Calgary when, as a 2022 third-round NHL Draft choice, he delivered a clean defensive zone check on Flames centre Nazem Kadri. The hit led to a retaliatory elbow from Connor Zary, resulting in Pettersson missing two games and Zary receiving a two-game suspension.
Canucks head coach Adam Foote acknowledges Pettersson's progress but cautions against overemphasis on open-ice hits. "I'm not a big believer in open-ice hits," Foote stated. "The game is too fast and you can get injuries. It's below the top of the circles, the corners and front of the net when it's time to be hard on guys, and he has done a really good job with it. He's learning."
Building Toward a Bright Future
Pettersson remains optimistic about the Canucks' rebuilding efforts, with the young defensive core being a key element. "I would say it's exciting," he summed up, noting his advancement in a first pairing with veteran Filip Hronek. "Everyone in here wants to get better, especially us defencemen as a young group. We compete hard in practice and want the best out of each other all the time."
Reflecting on his growth this season, Pettersson added, "I feel like from the start of the season until now, I've settled it down a little bit. I think I rushed a lot of plays in the beginning. Of course, there are going to be ups and downs, but lately I feel like I'm calmer and better at moving the puck."
Growing up, Pettersson admired Swedish defencemen like Erik Karlsson, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Victor Hedman. Today, he looks up to former Canucks blueliner Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers, a strong puck-mover and defensive asset. This mentorship from Bieksa adds another layer to his development as he continues to carve out his NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks.
