Vancouver centre Elias Pettersson has recorded two goals and six points with 19 hits in his first four games of the 2026-27 season.
The Story
Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson has started the 2026-27 NHL season with a noticeable increase in both production and physical play, according to reported early statistics.
In his first four games, Pettersson has 2 goals and 6 points, and he has also logged 19 hits—an average of 4.75 hits per game. The reported total leads his team, and as of Tuesday morning it was one behind former teammate Kiefer Sherwood for the NHL lead.
The figures stand out against Pettersson’s recent scoring output. Last season, he recorded 15 goals and 51 points in 74 games, and the year before he had 15 goals and 45 points in 64 games. Prior to that, he put up consecutive 89- and 102-point campaigns.
The same reporting also notes Pettersson’s earlier tendency to play more quietly and primarily from the perimeter, with hits rarely a major part of his game. It highlights the contrast that, despite his reputation for offensive skill, he has been second in the league in hits early in the season.
With Pettersson’s current hitting rate, the reported projection is that he would reach around 400 hits over a full 84-game schedule. Yakov Trenin of the Minnesota Wild was noted as the only player to record over 400 hits last season.
The report also points to the last season Pettersson matched his “expected ability” level: in 2023-24 he scored 89 points and made 125 hits, ranking fifth on the Canucks in that category.
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