Marcus Pettersson

April 2020 – Pettersson played an important role this year with the NHL Penguins. He scored two goals and added 20 assists in 69 games, ranking third in points by Penguins blueliners with 22. The potential top four defenseman played a shutdown role defensively and moved the puck well offensively. Clare McManus

February 2020 – Not known as a tough guy, Pettersson enhanced his reputation as a good teammate by coming to the rescue of Patric Hornqvist. When his fellow Swede was hit from behind by yet another countryman (Lars Eller) and banged the boards head-first, Pettersson challenged Eller. It was a significant moment in a 4-3 triumph by the injury-depleted Penguins. The 23-year-old Pettersson has 15 points in 53 games, but his value to the team goes far beyond his offensive contributions. Mark Allan

January 2020 – Further taking advantage of a so-far lopsided trade with Anaheim, the Penguins signed Marcus Pettersson to a five-year extension carrying an AAV of $4,025,175. Acquired for skilled yet inconsistent winger Daniel Sprong, who has spent most of the season in the AHL, the Swedish blueliner has become part of the team’s young core. Belying his age (23), Pettersson has used his smarts to be a reliable top-four fixture in a defense corps that has lost Justin Schultz and Brian Dumoulin for extended periods due to injury. Mark Allan

December 2019 – While Pettersson and Justin Schultz have registered the most blueline pairing ice time overall, persistent injuries have caused much juggling. In the latest configuration, the dependable Swede finds himself on the third pairing with Chad Ruhwedel. Pettersson, who has modest offensive totals of a goal and 10 assists in 34 outings, will never pile up points. His worth to the Penguins is as a steady back-ender and, as such, he’ll continue to be more valuable in reality than in fantasy. Mark Allan

October 2019 – With an assist (on a game-tying goal by Sidney Crosby), plus-2, a shot on goal, three blocked shots and two hits, the low-key Swede was a solid contributor in a 3-2 OT victory over the previously unbeaten Avalanche. Although he has just one power-play point so far, Pettersson logged a healthy 2:04 with the man advantage against Colorado. An under-the-radar point producer, he has a goal and three assists in seven games and is plus-3. Mark Allan

September 2019 – Although he deserves more, the stabilizing blueliner accepted his qualifying offer of $874,125 in a one-year deal. That works for GM Jim Rutherford, who is slightly more than $1 million over the cap ceiling, with no more unsigned free agents. Pettersson played steady defense, posted 19 points in 57 outings for Pittsburgh and was 10th in rookie-of-the-year balloting. The 23-year-old Swede meshed well with Eric Gudbranson late in the campaign. Pettersson will again be a restricted free agent in a year, and will have arbitration rights. Assuming Rutherford has pared his team’s crowded blueline and freed some cap space by then, Pettersson should be rewarded for his co-operation. Mark Allan

June 2019 – As expected, Pettersson’s stabilizing play on Pittsburgh’s blueline earned him a qualifying offer. The Penguins don’t expect offense from the steady Swede but he should continue to make low-key contributions. Expect the 23-year-old RFA to sign a deal the team can afford. Mark Allan

May 2019 – The lanky blueliner had one lonely assist as Sweden went 5-2 in preliminary games at the IIHF world championship in Slovakia before suffering a dramatic 5-4 OT loss to eventual champion Finland. Scoring is not Pettersson’s forté, although the 6-4, 181-pounder compensates by cleverly thwarting opposing forwards. Especially if defenseman Olli Määttä is traded as expected, the 23-year-old RFA Pettersson could easily earn a new, team-friendly deal. Mark Allan

May 2019 – The solid Swede became a dependable, if low-profile, cog on Pittsburgh’s back end. After posting six assists in 27 outings with the Ducks, he added two scores and 17 assists in 57 outings with Pittsburgh and a plus-13 (tied for second among Penguin blueliners), mostly paired with Jack Johnson. Without a lot of meat (177 pounds) on a 6-3 frame, Pettersson compensates with savvy positioning and intelligent puck movement. The 23-year-old RFA has earned a new contract, although he won’t help your fantasy roster much. Mark Allan

March 2019 – The lanky 6-3, 177-pounder is forming a solid defensive pairing with hulking new acquisition Erik Gudbranson, who’s 6-5. Imported from Anaheim for disappointing prospect Daniel Sprong, Pettersson has quietly helped solidify Pittsburgh’s blueline with intelligent positioning and puck movement. In 45 games, the 22-year-old Swede has 15 points, 45 penalty minutes and, most importantly, a plus-10 rating. The soon-to-be restricted free agent has done enough to earn a new deal. Mark Allan

February 2019 – With Justin Schultz still recovering from an ankle injury, Pettersson continues to pair regularly with Jack Johnson and perform with a maturity beyond his 22 years. In a 5-3 win over Ottawa, he didn’t get a point but finished plus-1 and had three shots on goal during 15:48 on the ice. He also absorbed an elbow from Zach Smith that earned the Senator a maximum-allowable $5,000 fine. The Swede didn’t seem to be seriously hurt. When Schultz returns, coach Mike Sullivan might have to sit Pettersson or fellow rookie Jusso Riikola. Mark Allan

January 2019 – While you could argue the rangy Swede isn’t doing much to help on Pittsburgh’s blueline, an equally strong case can be made that he isn’t hurting them. His offensive output restricted to seven helpers in 21 games since arriving from the Ducks, Pettersson has used his 6-4, 181-pound frame to compile a plus-8 rating, usually on a second pairing with Jack Johnson. A likely candidate for the press box or the AHL once Justin Schultz returns from an indefinite absence due to an ankle injury, the 22-year-old keeps soaking up NHL experience at an average of 16:14 per game, including 51 PP seconds and 12 while shorthanded. Mark Allan

December 2018 – When the Penguins gave up on slow-to-develop potential sniping RW Daniel Sprong, they opted for reliability in an exchange of second-rounders. At 22, the Swedish native has a projectable 6-4, 181-pound frame and 59 NHL games with the Ducks with one goal, nine helpers and a promising cumulative total of plus-9. In his first game with Pittsburgh (an important 6-3 win over Colorado), the converted forward was paired primarily with Jack Johnson, skating for 13:54 at even strength at plus-1, with one SOG and two blocked shots. His solid debut could be followed by other NHL outings at least until Justin Schultz returns from an indefinite injury. The two-way defender is a project with limited upside but virtually no downside, especially once he adds some more muscle. Mark Allan

December 2018 – Pettersson is a stay at home D and much better NHL player than fantasy. He uses his size to defend and has a good stick, but his shot is not very good and he doesn’t hit or block as much as you’d like for a fantasy team that counts those peripheral stats. Lucas Main

October 2018 – Pettersson has left off where he ended last year, on the big club. With Anaheim wanting to play a more up-tempo, faster game, look for Pettersson to be in the line up more often and to jump in on the rush. He picked his spots during preseason and contributed an assist and was a plus two. He’ll be a depth option for your fantasy team as he contributes to blocks and sprinkles in the hits. Lucas Main

March 2018 – Pettersson made his NHL debut on February 15^th and became a main stay in the Anaheim line up after they did not pick up another defenseman at the trade deadline and it looks like they made the right call in keeping him. He has played in 16 games so far and his confidence is growing with each game he plays. He has the ability to move the puck and once he adds some more muscle to his frame (he is only 21 years old) he will develop into a solid two-way defenseman. With Beauchemin and Bieksa not expected to be back next season, Pettersson will be a main stay in the Anaheim line up. Lucas Main

September 2017 – Pettersson is slowly working his way up the Ducks’ depth chart. After it drafted him in the second round in 2014, the team knew he had to work on his game and gain some weight (he was drafted at 160 pounds, and is up to 175). He has played for Skelleftea AIK in Sweden’s top league for the past two seasons, playing against men, and he says he is ready to contend for a spot in North America. Pettersson is still a few years away, but with his height and skill, look for him to put up modest point totals, with more value coming from peripheral stats. Lucas Main

June 2016 – After a decent performance for Sweden at the WJC, Pettersson continued to play for Skelleftea AIK in the SHL. Pettersson didn’t put up flashy numbers (Seven points in 46 regular season games and zero points in 8 playoff games), but he grew as a player in his own end. He finished the season a plus-17 and added some weight to his frame (Skelleftea has him listed at 174 lbs). He went through a rough stretch in the playoffs where he was a healthy scratch at times, but he ended up earning his coaches trust again and earning some valuable experience, playing four out of the five finals games. Pettersson still needs to build up his frame, but with his size and his smarts in his own zone, he could round into a solid stay at home defenseman. Lucas Main

January 2016 – Pettersson and his Swedish team played a lackadaisical bronze medal game against the United States, losing 8-3 in a one-sided contest. He failed to register a point in the game and finished a disappointing minus-2 rating. This leaves his tournament scoring total at seven games played, zero goals, four assists, six PIM, and a minus-1 rating.  Despite failing to medal, Pettersson had a solid showing in the tournament, making an impact on both the power play and penalty kill. He showed good poise on the blue line and made good decisions in his own end.  Marcus will be returning to his hometown to finish the season with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League. The Ducks are hoping his game can continue to progress in the right direction, and tack on some muscle to the 6’3 frame he possesses. Bryan Puffer

January 2016 – Sweden fell 2-1 to the host Finns in the semi-finals of the world junior championship. The electrifying pro-Finland crowd seemed to have little effect on Pettersson, who made good decisions in all three zones, and played on the power play and penalty kill for Sweden. Pettersson has no reason to hang his head; the young defenseman has had a solid tournament, compiling four assists and a plus-1 rating.  He looked natural skating with the top young talent in the world, which is a good sign for the Anaheim Ducks, who may try to lure the six-four defenseman to North America in the near future. Bryan Puffer

December 2015- Through his first two games in the WJC, Pettersson is tied for second on the team in scoring with three points (three assists).  He has shown a great deal of poise on the blue line, which has helped Sweden come out victorious in their first two contests, including shutting out the United States in their last game.  Sweden still has two more games in the preliminary rounds, one against Denmark, then a difficult matchup with the Canadians on New Years Eve.  Bryan Puffer

December 2015- Pettersson should fit well with the highly skilled Swedish defenseman that will be playing alongside him in the 2015 World Junior Championships. His ability to join the rush, and the fact he is now playing against competition in his age group should provide him the opportunity to thrive on the score sheet and make a big splash in this tournament.  Bryan Puffer

December 2015- Marcus Pettersson will be joining fellow Ducks prospect Jacob Larsson at Sweden’s 2016 World Junior Selection camp later this month.  Pettersson is currently 25 games into his Skelleftea AIK season.  He has already matched his point total from the past two years and should see a steady improvement in point production (2G-2AST-4PTS).  More notably, the young defenseman has plus-12 rating, which proves he is starting to become more reliable in the defensive zone.  The skinny, lanky frame he possesses still needs a great deal of work, but I could see him adding nearly 20 lbs in the next couple of years. Bryan Puffer

June 2014 – Marcus Petterson was selected by the Anaheim Ducks at 38th overall in the 2nd round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. As of late, Anaheim has been known to draft Swedes and this pick was no exception. Although still raw, Petterson has all the skills and tools to develop into a strong two-way top four defenseman. –Kevin Won

May 2014 – Coverted from a forward to a defender, Swede Marcus Pettersson displays above-average offensive instincts and solid mobility. A bean pole of sorts, Pettersson has loads of room to fill out physically making him an intriguing long-term investment. Defensively, Pettersson is a work in progress but with sound coaching, many believe he can develop into an impact defenseman at the next level.  Brendan Ross