WATCH: Canucks prospect Viktor Persson plays first pairing in Liiga preseason and scores first goal in Finland

It was a good day for Canucks prospect Viktor Persson.

It began with the 20-year-old right-shot defenceman being deployed on his Liiga team’s first pairing in a preseason game against HPK Hämeenlinna.

We have only really seen Persson used as a seventh defenceman for the Pelicans up to this point in the preseason. Seeing him on the first pairing was quite the shock when the lineup was announced this morning.

The Pelicans ended up winning the game by a score of 5-0 and Persson got involved in the scoring with a goal of his own in the second period.

Persson played last season with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL, where he had four goals and 25 assists in 65 games. He signed with the Pelicans in Liiga on August 9th and played his best game of the preseason on Wednesday.

As a 6’2″, right-shot defenceman, we clearly have interest in watching what Persson is going to do in his rookie season as a professional player. Our expectation is that he fights to be in the lineup for the Pelicans to begin the season and can move into a top-four role if he plays well.

The Liiga begins their regular season on Tuesday, September 13th but Persson’s Pelicans begin their season on Wednesday, September 14th.

We will be sure to keep you posted on all the latest prospect news and continue to follow along with how Persson fairs during his rookie season in Liiga.

Be sure to check out our weekly prospect update, every Tuesday in the Blackfish Report.