Canucks’ Pettersson expected to play for Sweden at 2019 IIHF worlds

Ron MacLean, Nick Kypreos, Chris Johnston and Elliotte Friedman discuss all the top news stories from around the NHL.

Outstanding Vancouver Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson is expected to represent Sweden at this year’s 2019 IIHF World Championship.

Although nothing is official, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported Saturday during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada that Pettersson recently spoke with Swedish national coach Rikard Grönborg and all indications are he’s interested in participating in the tourney.

Sweden has won two consecutive gold medals at the worlds and Pettersson was on the 2018 team, registering a goal and two assists in five games.

Pettersson finished his first NHL season with the Canucks with 27 goals and 65 points in 70 games. The 20-year-old Sundsvall native is the clear-cut favourite to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.

This year’s tournament takes place from May 10-26 in Bratislava and Košice in Slovakia.

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