Canucks All-Star forward Elias Pettersson named NHL’s first star of the week

Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson has been named the National Hockey League’s first star of the week ending January 14, the league announced Monday morning.

Pettersson, 25, led the league with five goals and nine points in four games as the Canucks went undefeated last week. The Swedish centre was also one of eight skaters voted by fans into the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto next month.

The Canucks will be extensively represented at this year’s All-Star weekend, with Pettersson and Quinn Hughes leading a cohort that also includes J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, Thatcher Demko, and head coach Rick Tocchet.

Pettersson had two four-point games during the Canucks’ perfect 4-0-0 week, helping his team overtake the Winnipeg Jets for the top spots in the Western Conference and the National Hockey League. The Canucks are now 29-11-3 with 61 points and a league-leading +55 goal differential through 43 games this season.

Calgary Flames winger Blake Coleman was named the league’s second star of the week; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was named the third star. Pettersson was previously named the second star of the month of October 2023 and the second star of the week ending October 15.

Through 43 games with the Canucks this season, Pettersson ranks second on the team in both goals and points. Only Brock Boeser (27) has more goals than Pettersson’s 22; J.T. Miller has 59 points to Pettersson’s 58.

In fact, Pettersson and Miller have already combined for a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on this Monday morning, with Pettersson and Nikita Zadorov getting the assists on Miller’s 20th of the year:

Pettersson is under contract through the end of this current season at a $7.35 million cap hit. The pending RFA forward has been the subject of significant discussion and speculation about his contract status — and he’s reportedly in no rush to dig into contract talks with the Canucks.

The Canucks are currently tied at one with the Columbus Blue Jackets late in the first period of their game at Nationwide Arena on this Monday morning.