Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet built on initialisms and alliteration.

Speaking of alliteration, we snuck three Bs into the title this week, but today we’re talking about an A-grade topic. It’s Elias Pettersson, the elder one, otherwise known as EP40, and we’re definitely not the only ones talking about him right now.

Pettersson tends to be a frequent subject of discussion in hockey circles no matter how he is performing. But his hot, angry start to the 2026-27 season certainly has people talking a lot more positively about him than usual, and using words like “comeback,” “bounceback,” or just “back.”

But is he?

Through four games, Pettersson has two goals and six points, good for a tie with teammate Paul Cotter for third in league scoring behind Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard. Perhaps more impressively, as of this writing, Pettersson sat at second overall in the NHL with 19 hits, trailing only former teammate Kiefer Sherwood.

But forget about the stats. The eye test also says Pettersson is playing a lot more like he used to than he has anytime recently, and that includes clappers from the top of the right circle. His approach seems to contain a lot more of that unique Swedish form of revenge we were promised a year ago.

But…it’s early. It’s only been four games. And this is a fanbase that has a well-developed and well-earned lack of trust in good things continuing to happen for it.

With all that in mind, at this early juncture in the season, we thought we’d collect what we’re sure will be a wide range of initial opinions on the subject of Pettersson bouncing back, and the relation therein.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You predicted below!

The Canucks will lead the league in OT games. Most wins and losses.

Emilie Castonguay quits the Canucks to become the first ever commissioner of the PWHL.

My random prediction is that Canucks trade Paul Cotter for a first or an equivalent young prospect toward the TDL.

Arturs Silovs will have more shutouts than Kevin Lankinen while earning almost half of what Lankinen makes.

Nanaimo Bars:
Jim Rutherford leaves the Canucks organization and becomes the POHO of Seattle Kraken.

He promptly promotes Allvin to GM and hires Tocchett outta Philly cuz the Flyers are sick of Rick.

Truthfully, after watching the effort, especially Cotter along the boards prior to scoring? Scares me. If they play that way, the mushy middle here we come. Just outside the playoffs like Columbus last year. Close, but no cigar AND no high draft pick.

OK, fun question, anything goes.

I’ll be positive and predict that the Canucks lend Cootes to the Canadian u20 WJHC team where he is named captain and leads the team to gold.

Linus Karlsson will record a hat trick at some point during the season.

Many older fans will report nodding off before the third period trying to watch 8:00 start games. Games are so boring and demoralizing that nobody actually notices or cares.

I think Hronek is set for a career year. Getting full PP1 time, something he’s never had before, should easily get him roughly 30 PP points. On top of that, he will get the team highest ice-time without PK duties, it will keep him fresh, and picking up maximum even strength ice-time should net him another 25 to 35 points.

The Canucks will lose all their games against Dallas, Dallas will lose all their games against Edmonton, and Edmonton will lose all their games against Vancouver.

Game 1 of 84 will be the best game of the season.

Was going to say that they win the draft lottery, but there’s zero chance of that. So I’ll go with the guess that the Canucks have three goalies who get one shutout each this season.

The Canucks win the draft lottery for the first time in team history, but still have to draft third overall after two new expansion teams are granted the first two picks.

I predict Canucks will play at least five different goalies in the NHL this year.

Leevi, Lankinen, and Demko are easy to anticipate.

I’m betting Demko gets traded and we will get a goalie in return.

Further, I’m betting there will be an injury and Tolopilo will get called up.

Bains enjoys his first full season in the NHL.

Scores minimum 15 goals and 15 assists.

Canucks trade Mancini and a future second to Tampa for Conor Geekie.

Here’s the twofer no one axed for, plus a bonus:

1) Paul Cotter fulfills his destiny as the next Kiefer Sherwood and is traded at the deadline for two seconds.

2) Canucks follow that up by drafting three times in the top 48 and claim all players picked were ranked in their own top-20.

And the bonus take no one wanted: Having no relatives ranked in the top ten of the draft, the Canucks astutely wait until the fifth round to select Valter Sedin.

What is a random prediction you have about the 2026-27 Vancouver Canucks season?

Not sure example how to define “random” but one prediction I am making is that by the end of the season the Canucks will have the youngest average age of any team in the NHL (they are currently third youngest, so perhaps it isn’t all that random after all).

If making a second one, even it that wasn’t asked for (lol), the Canucks will sign two upper-tier undrafted college players as Vancouver will become a trendy “go to” destination — oddly specific, I see one or both of Jan Korec and/or Carter Rapalje joining Abby down the stretch and adding some nice depth to the team.

I’m also doing two:

#1 – Comment section darlings Victor Mancini and Aatu Räty both do not finish the season in the organization.

#2 – Whispers begin to happen that the Aquilini’s are open for business and looking selling the team for the right price.

Alex G:
The Canucks finally win the draft lottery, despite having the sixth best odds to do so. The team plays better than the experts predicted.

Demko will come back, play lights out.

And will get traded at the trade deadline to one of Edmonton, New Jersey, or Carolina for a first round pick and win the Stanley Cup with that team that he is traded to, which will get the Canucks a second conditional draft pick from that team for winning the Cup, as Demko stays healthy for the playoffs.

By midseason center Elias Pettersson and defenseman Elias Pettersson will switch jerseys, positions, and pregame routines…

EP40 will finish the season having broken the league record for blocked shots, meanwhile, EP25 will lead the league in Gordie Howe Hat-tricks…

I think they will be a “lottery” team, but nowhere near the bottom three (not that it matters). I think Petey, Lekki, and Boeser will surprise us in a good way, while DeBrusk is moved, along with Demko.