Lucas Pettersson

February 2024 – One of the most tantalizing players of this year’s draft. Lucas Pettersson, at his best is a slam dunk first round talent, he plays a fast, skilled game and can take over shifts with break neck speed. A very accurate shot and a well-rounded defensive game should paint the picture of a minute munching center at the NHL level. However, 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. He hasn’t had much to say in that regard until lately, with 5 consecutive multi-point games to rack up a total of 13 points. If he can keep this up, he might give reason for pause on the current assessment. – David Saad

February Rankings: 38th