Throwback Thursday: This week in 2017, Vancouver Canucks draft Elias Pettersson fifth overall

This week in 2017 (June 23rd), the Vancouver Canucks drafted Elias Pettersson fifth overall.

The young superstar was selected out of Allsvenskan where he had scored 41 points in 43 games with Timra IK. After his draft year, he played one season with the Vaxjo Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League where he had a monster year scoring 24 goals and 56 points in 44 games.

While the young Swede has only played for the Canucks for two years, he’s been nothing short of a revelation. In 139 games between last year and this, Pettersson has scored 55 goals and 132 points. In his rookie year at 20 years old, his 66 points in 71 games were enough to give him the runaway Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.

This past year he had already matched his rookie season point total in 68 games and was well on pace for a near point-per-game season.

On Twitter: @zjlaing