Canucks nab Swedish center Elias Pettersson 5th overall

The Vancouver Canucks selected forward Elias Pettersson with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.

Elias Pettersson

Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 161 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Timra IK (Swe-1)
Nationality: Swedish

Pettersson displays good hockey sense and solid offensive instincts, attributes that have earned his playing style comparisons to fellow Swede Nicklas Backstrom, according to NHL.com. He finished second among European skaters ranked by NHL Central Scouting.

"(Pettersson) has good vision and hands and is considered more of a playmaker," writes Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com. "He can play wing or center, and can effectively run a power play."