Center
5’11/170
Left
MoDo Hockey J20/J20 Nationell
Related: Cole Eiserman
Lucas Pettersson is a center prospect who skates quickly, works hard, and has shown a good scoring touch in Sweden’s top junior league this year. Pettersson was a leader for Sweden at last Summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring four points in as many games, and should be a major factor for their U18 World Championship team in May. He has a quick and accurate snapshot that has served him well in the J20 league this year, but his skating and work ethic are the most exciting attributes he has. At just 17 years old he has already played a handful of games in the SHL. Pettersson has scored 27 goals and 57 points in 44 games in the J20 Nationell for Modo Hockey and also appeared in 5 SHL games for Modo. There are always a few Swedes who rise up draft boards significantly following the U18s, and I expect Pettersson to be one of them this time around. Depending on how he does in the tournament, he could either improve his draft
stock and work his way up into being a late first-round pick or he could end up being a 2nd round pick, which is more likely.
Size/Strength Average
Skating Excellent
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Great
Physical Play Below Average
Offensive Play Excellent
Defensive Play Great
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Excellent
Strengths
1. At his best is a slam dunk first-round talent, he plays a fast, skilled game and can take over shifts with breakneck speed.
2. A very accurate shot and a well-rounded defensive game should paint the picture of a minute-munching center at the NHL level.
3. His skating and work ethic are the most exciting attributes he has, but his Hockey IQ is the attribute that jumps off the board to me.
Areas of Improvement
1. Pettersson hasn’t always been at his best, his engagement can waver, he can shy away from contact and he can be frustratingly passive.
2. Needs to show his best more consistently.
Scouting Report
Lucas Pettersson is a center prospect who skates quickly, works hard, and has shown a good scoring touch in Sweden’s top junior league this year. Pettersson was a leader for Sweden at last Summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring four points in as many games, and should be a major factor for their U18 World Championship team in May. He has a quick and accurate snapshot that has served him well in the J20 league this year, but his skating and work ethic are the most exciting attributes he has. Pettersson is having a good season with Modo Hockey, tallying 27 goals and 57 points in 44, J20 Nationell games. At just 17 years old he has already played a handful of games in the SHL. There are always a few Swedes who rise up draft boards significantly following the U18s, and I expect Pettersson to be one of them this time around. Lucas Pettersson, at his best, is a slam-dunk first-round talent, he plays a fast, skilled game and can take over shifts with breakneck speed. A very accurate shot and a well-rounded defensive game should paint the picture of a minute-munching center at the NHL level. An offensively gifted two-way center who dominated the top junior league early on received a call-up early on. Sets up his teammates in scoring positions from anywhere on the rink. He sets up his teammates in scoring positions from anywhere on the rink and displays quick acceleration, decisive reaction, and smarts to slow the play and freeze defenders while he surveys his options. He is a force on the forecheck, forces turnovers, and can make teams pay by outworking defensemen along the boards and in the dirty areas for scoring chances. Pettersson hasn’t always been at his best, his engagement can waver, he can shy away from contact and he can be frustratingly passive. These tendencies tend to shrink during his SHL or international reps but all the puzzle pieces show a player who should be making magic happen in the J20 level. My NHL comparison for Lucas Pettersson is William Karlsson, a slick two-way center, who is capable of being a second-line center but is better suited as a super third-line
center in a shutdown-type role. He is a player who loves to play in the slot and is capable of creating a lot of danger for his teammates. His great leadership, hard work, and skills place him today as one of the top talents eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft from Sweden. Overall, a mature two-way center that the team can rely on in any game situation, and as a penalty killer, and would make a great 2nd line center in the NHL.
Skill: Offensively gifted center with a high pace, well-rounded two-way game
NHL Comparable: William Karlsson
NHL Potential: 2nd Line Center
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | PTS |
| 2022-23 | MoDo Hockey J20 | J20 National | 29 | 5 | 19 |
| Sweden U17 | WHC-17 | 6 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2023-24 | Sweden U18 | Hlinka Gretzky Cup | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| MoDo Hockey J20 | J20 Nationell | 44 | 27 | 57 |
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