Elias Pettersson is undeniably one of the most electrifying players in hockey today. Known for his exceptional skating, precise shooting, and elite playmaking abilities, he has been a vital offensive force for the Vancouver Canucks ever since he was drafted. Selected fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Pettersson made an immediate impact when he joined the Canucks as a 19-year-old at the start of the 2018-19 season.
In March, the Canucks ensured Pettersson’s long-term future with the franchise by signing him to an eight-year contract extension worth a staggering $92.8 million. This deal, the richest in franchise history, will keep the now 25-year-old superstar in Vancouver through the 2031-32 season.
Interestingly, Pettersson wasn’t always destined to land in Vancouver. The New York Rangers, who were rebuilding at the time, were reportedly eager to draft him. Pettersson was projected to be selected anywhere from 5th to 8th overall, with some experts even suggesting he could fall lower.
The Rangers, who had just traded Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for the 7th overall pick and Tony DeAngelo, were in desperate need of a young, skilled center to fill the void left by Stepan’s departure. Rumors suggest that the Rangers considered moving up to the 5th overall pick in that year’s draft to secure Pettersson, but the persistence of Canucks executive Trevor Linden in holding onto that pick thwarted their plans.
Aside: Cale Makar was the Rangers’ top choice, but it was a relatively unrealistic dream that he would fall to # overall, let alone
With Pettersson off the board, the Rangers had to pivot, ultimately selecting Lias Andersson with the 7th overall pick. Unfortunately, Andersson’s career with the Rangers fell far short of expectations. Over 66 NHL games, he managed just 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) and frequently found himself shuttling between the NHL and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. He was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Kings after the 2020 season for a late-round pick, which the Rangers used to select Will Cuylle.
But what if things had played out differently? There were reports at the time that Canucks GM Jim Benning wasn’t entirely sold on Pettersson, making it plausible that Vancouver might have selected someone else or traded the pick. Had the Canucks been more interested in a player like Cody Glass, who was taken 6th overall in that draft, the door could have opened for the Rangers to move up to the 5th pick and grab Pettersson.
If the Rangers had managed to trade up, possibly by packaging J.T. Miller (who later ended up with Vancouver anyway) with the 7th overall pick and additional draft capital, they might have secured Pettersson. In this alternate scenario, Pettersson likely would have remained in Sweden for another year, just as he did with Vancouver, before making his NHL debut. This move wouldn’t have drastically altered the Rangers’ trajectory at the time, and they might still have ended up with the 9th overall pick in the following year’s draft.
However, the ripple effects of having Pettersson could have been profound. When the Rangers traded Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the return included Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, a 2018 first-round pick (Nils Lundkvist), and a conditional second-round pick (Karl Henriksson). Without Miller in that trade package, the Rangers might have received fewer prospects, but they likely would have still acquired the first-round pick used to select Lundkvist, allowing them to continue building their young core with players like Vitali Kravtsov, Lundkvist, and K’Andre Miller.
Pettersson’s arrival in the 2018-19 season would have been a beacon of hope during what was otherwise a challenging period for the Rangers. His Calder Trophy-winning performance, where he posted 66 points, would have made him a standout on a team that was shedding veterans and retooling for the future. Despite the roster turnover, the Rangers likely would have still landed the 2nd overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, using it to select Kaapo Kakko.
As the years progressed, Pettersson’s presence could have dramatically altered the Rangers’ fortunes and more than likely would not have garnered the first overall pick in 2020. The team’s decision to sign Artemi Panarin, trade for Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox, and strengthen their depth down the middle with Pettersson, Mika Zibanejad, Ryan Strome, and Filip Chytil, would have set them up as a formidable force. In this scenario, the Rangers might not have pursued Vincent Trocheck, instead opting to extend Zibanejad and rely on the dynamic duo of Zibanejad and Pettersson.
Pettersson’s influence might have propelled the Rangers to greater success in the seasons following the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly leading to a playoff berth in 2021 and a deeper run in 2022, potentially even reaching the Stanley Cup Final. His impact during the 2022-23 season, where he could have overshadowed Trocheck’s 64 points with his own 102-point campaign, might have helped the Rangers avoid their disappointing first-round exit against the Devils and set them up for a deeper playoff run.
In the present day, Pettersson’s 89 points would have been second only to Panarin’s historic 120-point season, potentially giving the Rangers the edge they needed in the Eastern Conference Finals against a team like the Florida Panthers. While it’s impossible to know exactly how things would have unfolded, it’s clear that having a player of Pettersson’s caliber could have reshaped the Rangers’ recent history, possibly leading to a Stanley Cup Final appearance—or even a championship.
But as with all “what if” scenarios, it remains a fascinating dream to consider.
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