the most encouraging part for me it that his sh% isn't crazy high, 12.4% is high and but not ridiculous. He's shooting the puck at a decent rate, if he keeps doing that he has a shot at 20 goals.
- Nucker101

Bo Brock and Elias all have significantly higher shooting %s than that

I expected north of 60, I definitely didn't expect 70 point guy on top of his obvious defensive acumen. Big difference between the two even though 10 points doesn't seem like much.
- neem55

Yeah i guess you're right, i still wouldn't find it THAT surprising if he finished up there. I've learned to never underestimate this guy, he just keeps getting better.

Bo Brock and Elias all have significantly higher shooting %s than that
- NorthNuck

Because they're much higher IQ players, they don't bury their head and rip it, it's more calculated.

Yeah i guess you're right, i still wouldn't find it THAT surprising if he finished up there. I've learned to never underestimate this guy, he just keeps getting better.
- NorthNuck

I don't think I see a upper limit anymore, he just keeps getting better and is an absolute bull right now.

Bo Brock and Elias all have significantly higher shooting %s than that
- NorthNuck

Brock and EP are pure snipers so I think they can sustain a shooting % that's above league average, but yeah EP eventually has to slow down a bit as a goal scorer, his sh% is ridiculous. But he should also have a couple of more assists, he's set up a few teammates beautifully this season and doesn't get rewarded when it's one of the dmen or Goldobin(who's really struggling to finish, but is a good playmaker).

Yeah i guess you're right, i still wouldn't find it THAT surprising if he finished up there. I've learned to never underestimate this guy, he just keeps getting better.
- NorthNuck

He's a rare breed, not every young player has that kind of drive. Same with EP, the guy went from being a meh/decent shooter a couple of years ago in Sweden's tier 2 league to a lethal sniper in the NHL just by relentlessly working on his shooting.

Guys like the Sedins and Kesler had that same drive for self improvement.

Brock and EP are pure snipers so I think they can sustain a shooting % that's above league average, but yeah EP eventually has to slow down a bit as a goal scorer, his sh% is ridiculous. But he should also have a couple of more assists, he's set up a few teammates beautifully this season and doesn't get rewarded when it's one of the dmen or Goldobin(who's really struggling to finish, but is a good playmaker).
- Nucker101

Is EP a better passer or shooter? Either way, pure sniper undersells his passing ability.

Is EP a better passer or shooter? Either way, pure sniper undersells his passing ability.
- neem55

Pierre Lebrun just had a great write up in the Athletic about Pettersson and where each team had him ranked and why Vancouver got him.

Is EP a better passer or shooter? Either way, pure sniper undersells his passing ability.
- neem55

Well I mean pure in the sense that he's one of the few in the league who can beat an unscreened and in position goalie cleanly with his shot. Not in that sense that he's a one trick pony that can't pass.

Pierre Lebrun just had a great write up in the Athletic about Pettersson and where each team had him ranked and why Vancouver got him.
- LeftCoaster

He got that info eh? If I were a GM I'd just lie to him and tell him I had him ranked right behind the guy I took so I wouldn't look bad lol.

I'm hoping Soderstrom replaces lilegren at the WJC, definitely a kid worth keeping an eye on IMO. Some decent d in the first round, but I think we end up with a C/W. Lavoie seems like a good guy to add into the mix if he has top6 potential.

Well I mean pure in the sense that he's one of the few in the league who can beat an unscreened and in position goalie cleanly with this shot. Not in that sense that he's a one trick pony that can't pass.
- Nucker101

Right, that's definitely true he and BB both can beat a goalie. nice couple guys to have on the power play the next 10 years

Is EP a better passer or shooter? Either way, pure sniper undersells his passing ability.
- neem55

Dude is beating unscreened goalies clean short side as a rookie. Very very few players are that level of a shooter.

He's a great passer but that level of shooting talent is absurd.

Utonen wearing the C for Finland, missed that the first time I read the blog, is that accurate?

I'm hoping Soderstrom replaces lilegren at the WJC, definitely a kid worth keeping an eye on IMO. Some decent d in the first round, but I think we end up with a C/W. Lavoie seems like a good guy to add into the mix if he has top6 potential.
- neem55

❤
Been following him since last season, kid would be a nice fit with Bo.

Utonen wearing the C for Finland, missed that the first time I read the blog, is that accurate?
- neem55

Yes. The kid is a nice solid defenseman. Won't pull you out of your seat, just a steady Eddy, pun intended

He got that info eh? If I were a GM I'd just lie to him and tell him I had him ranked right behind the guy I took so I wouldn't look bad lol.
- Nucker101

Benning and Brackett had him ranked as the "most skilled" player in the draft, said they were taking him no matter where they drafted. At least that's what he says now


Edit: sorry...I went back and read it, after Nico and Nolan he's was their highest ranked player. If the Canucks would have picked 1st or 2nd we'd have one of those two kids.

❤
Been following him since last season, kid would be a nice fit with Bo.
- Reubenkincade

Big guys seem hard to project, you look at the last bunch of them that have been drafted high and only rantanen really stands out. Guys like Crowse that dominate junior because of their size just can't always bring that to the show. At this point, if there's one thing I trust JB to do is to maximize that pick. I truly hope he's calling Colorado every day after the trade freeze to get one of those picks somehow.

He's a rare breed, not every young player has that kind of drive. Same with EP, the guy went from being a meh/decent shooter a couple of years ago in Sweden's tier 2 league to a lethal sniper in the NHL just by relentlessly working on his shooting.

Guys like the Sedins and Kesler had that same drive for self improvement.
- Nucker101

I agree. Couldn't be happier about the set up for the teams future with 2 guys with insane work ethic coming in just in time to replace the twins

Benning and Brackett had him ranked as the "most skilled" player in the draft, said they were taking him no matter where they drafted. At least that's what he says now
- LeftCoaster

If I had to speculate, I'd say the Preds, Nucks and Rags were 3 of the teams that were highest on EP.


Preds are obvious since it was leaked that they had him ranked #1.

I'm still speculating that Makar was Benning's #1 choice but after he was gone then he was focused on EP unless something crazy happened(Nico slipping).

Rags I'm speculating traded for that pick hoping that EP would be there. I feel like Andersson was there safety net but EP was the guy they really wanted.


Who cares though, we got him, I've never been happier to eat crow about a draft pick

If I had to speculate, I'd say the Preds, Nucks and Rags were 3 of the teams that were highest on EP.


Preds are obvious since it was leaked that they had him ranked #1.

I'm still speculating that Makar was Benning's #1 choice but after he was gone then he was focused on EP unless something crazy happened(Nico slipping).

Rags I'm speculating traded for that pick hoping that EP would be there. I feel like Andersson was there safety net but EP was the guy they really wanted.
- Nucker101

He says Dallas, NYR and Philadelphia were super high on him (wasn’t an option at 2 for Philly though) and Dallas was thinking of moving down to #4 or #5 to take him but they ultimately decided to take a dman. A bad need for them.

If I had to speculate, I'd say the Preds, Nucks and Rags were 3 of the teams that were highest on EP.


Preds are obvious since it was leaked that they had him ranked #1.

I'm still speculating that Makar was Benning's #1 choice but after he was gone then he was focused on EP unless something crazy happened(Nico slipping).

Rags I'm speculating traded for that pick hoping that EP would be there. I feel like Andersson was there safety net but EP was the guy they really wanted.


Who cares though, we got him, I've never been happier to eat crow about a draft pick
- Nucker101[/quote]

Same👍

He says Dallas, NYR and Philadelphia were super high on him (wasn’t an option at 2 for Philly though) and Dallas was thinking of moving down to #4 or #5 to take him but they ultimately decided to take a dman. A bad need for them.
- LeftCoaster

Heiskanen is a stud so Dallas did fine as well. Man that just goes to show what a fine line these GM's walk, Hextall still has a job right now if he reached for EP or moved down a spot or 2 to take him.

Really amazing how every team in the league apparently knew that EP would be this good, including the 4 teams who decided to pass.

Although Heineken looks like the new Duncan Keith for Dallas.

Unfortunately the highlights I saw didn't include Jakes goal but I see he had an assist on Eriksson's empty netter, which means Greener trusts him to be out there to defend #speed
- LeftCoaster

They pulled their goalie with 5 minutes left . Everyone played.