When the Vancouver Canucks reconvened after the NHL All-Star break, all eyes were on Elias Lindholm. At his first practice, the newly acquired forward lined up at right wing alongside Elias Pettersson. Ilya Mikheyev rounded out the trio, which will make its debut Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
“I know (Lindholm’s) a very good centreman,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet told reporters Sunday. “I know (Pettersson) plays well at centre. Sometimes I throw him on the wing. We’ll see how that goes.”
There is a lot to like about a Pettersson-Lindholm partnership. Besides the positional versatility, Pettersson is the type of high-end playmaker who can help Lindholm, who has nine goals this season, get back on track offensively.
Lindholm was a point-per-game player as the centre for Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, who combined for 219 points (136 at 5-on-5) during the 2021-22 season. Lindholm made a killing in front of the net, scoring 23 goals from the slot at 5-on-5. That was tied for fourth most in the league.
Over the past two seasons, however, the quality of Lindholm’s linemates has diminished, leading to a drop in production. Before the trade, Lindholm’s most common wingers at even strength this season were Yegor Sharangovich (412:05), Andrew Mangiapane (322:04) and Jonathan Huberdeau (313:44).
Pettersson draws so much attention from opponents that Lindholm should be able to slip into high-scoring areas more frequently. (Lindholm has taken 39.1 per cent of his 5-on-5 shot attempts this season from the slot, down from 63.5 per cent during his career year.)
“When you play with a skill player like that you just give them the puck and try to find open ice,” Lindholm told reporters.
Tocchet can also trust Pettersson and Lindholm in key defensive situations. Pettersson ranks 10th out of 456 qualified forwards (minimum 100 minutes) in 5-on-5 defensive plays made per 20 minutes. That includes blocked passes; Pettersson’s average of 4.78 per 20 at 5-on-5 ranks third. Although Lindholm’s defensive numbers are not as robust as in years past, the 2022 Selke Trophy runner-up has a proven track record of impactful play on that side of the puck.
Lindholm will take the pressure off Pettersson in the faceoff circle as well. He has won 55.5 per cent of his draws, tied for 15th out of 90 players who have taken at least 15 per cent of their team’s faceoffs. Pettersson is tied for 71st at 48.7 per cent.
The league-leading Canucks paid a steep price for Lindholm, whose all-around ability made him the most sought-after player ahead of the trade deadline. Tocchet is now flush with options up front, and his decision to start Lindholm with Pettersson is very intriguing.
All stats via Sportlogiq
