Tonight is the 2017 NHL Draft. It’s a date I’ve had on my calendar for awhile because I felt very strongly that this past season’s NHL Trade Deadline took a backseat to the eventual NHL Expansion Draft. Welp, that is over and done with for everyone now. We were all given Thursday off to assess the damage and next steps. Tonight’s NHL Draft could see trade activity alongside the next wave of prospects being ushered in.

Beyond these next two days comes the 2017 Nashville Predators Rookie Development Camp. After attending the event last year I am happy to announce that I will again be back in Nashville to get a look at the prospects attending and an early glimpse at some of the soon to be Milwaukee Admirals later this year.

For those who missed the official release by the Predators you can view it right here for a full run of the scheduling. What I would like to highlight here on Admirals Roundtable is the preliminary roster for this year’s Rookie Development Camp.

~Roster~

Forwards: Patrick Harper. Tyler Kelleher, Justin Kirkland, Tyler Moy. Tommy Novak, Alex Overhardt, Rem Pitlick, Gera Poddubnyi, Anthony Richard, Jason Salvaggio, Nathan Sucese, and Yakov Trenin

Defensemen: Frédéric Allard, Alex Carrier, Jack Dougherty, Dante Fabbro, Samuel Girard, Hardy Häman Aktell, Joonas Lyytinen, Zach Osburn and Adam Smith

Goaltenders: Andrew Shortridge and Karel Vejmelka

For a more detailed list you can view the handy dandy PDF that the Predators produced of this preliminary roster.

~Notes & Thoughts~

It is worth noting that the following names were invitees for this year’s camp: Kelleher, Osburn, Overhardt, Poddubnyi, Salvaggio, Shortridge, and Sucese. Those in Milwaukee are already familiar with Kelleher who is signed through the 2017-18 season on an AHL contract with the Admirals. As of now he is the lone “Admirals property” in attendance. Though some of those invited to the camp could be names we see again in the near future.

Let’s start by looking between the pipes because, as far as prospect depth goes, the Predators and the near future at that position is hurting. Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros have things on lockdown now for the Predators but it remains to be seen who will be entering the Admirals in both the AHL and ECHL for this coming season. Marek Mazanec and Jonas Gunnarsson do not appear to be coming back. And Mark Visentin already signed with Fehérvár AV19 in Hungary.

How would you best replace a tall Czech goaltender who catches pucks with a right glove such as Mazanec? By bringing in Vejmelka who is another tall Czech goaltender catching with a right glove.

As drafted talent goes, Vejmelka is likely the strongest candidate to make the leap into the AHL mix this coming season for the organization. He is 21-years old and has played consistently well between the top two tiers of the Czech League since being promoted from various youth academy programs. The last two seasons in particular have all been participated at the senior team level and he played 42 games in 2015-16 and 41 games in 2016-17. His best work was in Czech2, not the top flight, but he has shown signs that he could hit the ground running at the AHL level.

Other players that will be fun to see will be Allard, Moy, and Trenin who will all be starting their first seasons as professional hockey players in 2016-17. I’d expect all three to start off in Milwaukee at the AHL level. Trenin made his pro debut with the Admirals in the 2016 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs and recorded his first pro goal at the end of the Admirals 2016-17 regular season. Moy followed suit by also notching his first pro goal as an Admiral two games after Trenin.

The other whipper snapper that showed up at the end of the Admirals season to make his pro debut and record his first pro goal, Girard, will be at the camp. It is worth noting though that he will be returning to Shawinigan in the QMJHL for the 2017-18 season.

~Editor’s Note~

Lastly, I feel it important to make a personal announcement. I have been heavily involved in a full-time job commitment. As it has continued to drag on I feel it necessary to stick to what I do best here on Admirals Roundtable into the future until things change. Last season was a rough one behind the scenes for myself but, as is so often the case with players I watch in the AHL, adversity can be a good thing. I’ll find my way. And I will see you on Monday, Nashville. “The Doctor” is continuing on.

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The Professional Hockey Players’ Association has named Mike Liambas the American Hockey League’s Western Conference Built Tough award winner. The award is voted by players within the PHPA and presented to individual players from the AHL and ECHL’s Eastern and Western Conferences who are regarded as the toughest in their conference, a player who is there for his teammates, and helps makes his team the most challenging to play against.

Press Release via PHPA:

(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016-17 PHPA Built Tough Award as voted by the player Membership of the PHPA.

The PHPA Built Tough Award is presented to one player from the American Hockey League’s Eastern and Western Conferences and one player from the ECHL’s Eastern and Western Conferences who are considered by their peers to be the toughest in their respective conference. A player who is always there for his teammates and helps make his team one of the most challenging to play against.

ECHL Eastern Conference: Brandon McNally, Cincinnati Cyclones

Known for his combination of toughness and skill, Brandon McNally posted a career high 16 goals and 18 assists in 68 games split between Cincinnati, Utah, and San Diego during the 2016-17 season, while amassing 188 penalty minutes and 10 fighting majors. The 6’2, 218 pound forward from Saugus, Massachusetts split the 2015-16 season between the American Hockey League and ECHL after four years at Dartmouth College.

“For me, the team comes first, and I think a lot of guys have that mentality in the league,” said McNally, “It’s nice to know people in the league recognize that I try to be there for my teammates. I play hard every single night and I’m willing to stand up for my teammates.”

ECHL Western Conference: Derek Mathers, Allen Americans

Derek Mathers lead the ECHL with a whopping 274 penalty minutes while posting 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points in 59 games, helping the Allen Americans to a first place finish in the Mountain Conference. Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011, Mathers has accumulated at least 100 penalty minutes in each of his four previous seasons split between the ECHL and American Hockley League.

“I’m glad my teammates and peers recognize me for being there for them,” said Mathers. “It’s always nice being recognized, especially when it’s those you play with who are voting.”

AHL Eastern Conference: Justin Vaive, Rochester Americans

Standing 6’6 and weighing 240 pounds, Justin Vaive amassed 90 penalty minutes during the 2016-17 season while adding 3 goals and 9 assists. After being drafted by Anaheim in 2007, Vaive spent four years at Miami University and has spent the past six season primarily in the AHL split between Rochester, Bridgeport, Hartford, and San Antonio.

“You go into a season not expecting to be acknowledged or rewarded for whatever you do on the ice whether that’s scoring, or assists, or just being there for your teammates,” said Vaive. “All the other guys that were up for this award clearly deserved it. Our team was a skilled team and I was able to add that toughness element to our skilled roster. I also played against all the guys that were up for the award and they were all obviously deserving of it, and brought pretty much the exact same thing I did to the table.”

AHL Western Conference: Mike Liambas, Milwaukee Admirals

Playing in his 6th full season at the pro level, the 5’10, 203 pound Mike Liambas lead the AHL in penalty minutes with 149. His play didn’t go unnoticed as Liambas made his NHL debut on December 3rd with the Nashville Predators. After beginning his career in the ECHL with Cincinnati, Liambas has played for Orlando, Rockford, and Milwaukee, often as one of the league leaders in penalty minutes. He also contributed 3 goals and 8 assists which was a career high in points in a single season.

“I’m pretty vocal on the ice and I play a hard and honest game,” said Liambas. “I don’t take too many penalties or take advantage of guys on other teams outside the rules or the code of the game. When guys on the other team are saying you’re tough to play against and that you play the game the right way, it’s is good to hear, especially when you’re playing a style that is sometimes controversial. It’s really cool to see the guys you battle against put your name in for an award like this, I appreciate it.”

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Yesterday, the Nashville Predators officially signed Joonas Lyytinen to a two-year entry level contract. By doing so the Predators organization has successfully advanced everyone from their 2014 NHL Draft class and made them professional hockey players in North America: Kevin Fiala, Vladislav Kamenev, Jack Dougherty, Justin Kirkland, Viktor Arvidsson, and Aaron Irving.

The last name on that list, Irving, made his pro debut as a member of the Admirals on an amateur try-out contract during the 2015-16 season. Behind the scenes, during that exact same time, Lyytinen and goaltender Janne Juvonen had joined the Admirals after completing their respective seasons in Europe. They traveled with the team, participated in practices, and were eventually tabbed to professional try-out contracts prior to the second game of the playoffs for the Admirals. But – they never played. Which happens. Alex Carrier was in that exact same boat at the time after he completed his junior playing season. It’s meant to serve as a glimpse at the road ahead, meet the coaches and players, and to understand the team and the city you’d be playing in long in advance of the debut season.

What is curious is that neither Lyytinen or Juvonen did come back to Milwaukee or the AHL for the 2016-17 season. Instead, the Predators and Admirals brought in Jonas Gunnarsson and Mark Visentin rather than the young Finnish goaltender. And Lyytinen returned to his longtime Finnish team KalPa.

Yet, here we are with Lyytinen signing an entry level contract with the Predators only eighteen days after he signed a two-year contract with Kärpät as a free agent in Finland. It’s a little bit confusing.

What isn’t confusing is that Lyytinen’s stay back home last season was hugely positive for him. The Espoo, Finland native suited up with KalPa for 54 games while recording 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists). Those are all either matching careers bests or setting career bests. The most important one for me is the career best 54 games being played while competing at the senior level in Finland’s top flight: Liiga. He was 21-years of age during the course of the season and shrugged off a lesser 2015-16 season with one closer in strength to his full-season debut campaign of 2014-15 in Liiga. In my eyes he hit his sophomore slump and learned to make the right adjustments to vault forward.

It would seem that Lyytinen’s delayed arrival might have been worth it. But there is always going to be the question of will what he did on defense in Europe translate into how he has to play defense in the North American game. In recent years defensemen such as Johan Alm, Kristian Näkyvä, and Mikko Vainonen haven’t exactly been able to make that leap. In Vainonen’s case that remained to be true even after two years dabbling in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs. Will Lyytinen stick or end up heading back home where he basically had already signed a new two-year contract with Kärpät? That’s a storyline that will be coming up throughout the 2017-18 season.

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Matt White has officially signed a one-year contract with German club Augsburger Panther that will have him playing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for the 2017-18 season. White joins the likes of Justin Florek from the 2016-17 Milwaukee Admirals to shift to the DEL for next season.

It’s still rather hard for me to believe that it took until December of the 2015-16 season for the Admirals to be the first team to give White an AHL chance. He had played 158 career games in the ECHL prior to joining on a PTO Contract and proceeded to never play ECHL hockey again. In his time with the Admirals in the AHL he produced 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 125 games. He showed -across the board- that he was fully capable of excelling in the AHL and did so while displaying great skill, sound ability on defense, and leadership skills.

White will turn 28-years old prior to the start of the 2017-18 season. This will not be his first spell playing in Europe however as he did play for Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia for a brief period of time in the 2014-15 season scoring 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 11 games before returning to North America.

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Andrew O’Brien was the first man to set himself up to return. Today we have the first departure. Justin Florek has officially signed a one-year contract with German club Iserlohn Roosters.

Florek joined the Admirals initial Training Camp and quickly won himself a contract. His run prior to the Admirals featured a very great résumé. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins where he would go on to play 4 career games in the NHL as well as 6 career games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He scored a goal during both of those runs in the NHL with the Bruins but his career would shift to the AHL with the Providence Bruins and then for the 2015-16 season he joined the New York Islanders organization where he played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Once Florek joined the Admirals for the 2016-17 season he seemed to be a perfect fit. And the man who enjoyed his 27th birthday yesterday managed to erase what was a rough season for him with the Sound Tigers. Florek produced 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 75 games for the Admirals this past season. That’s the most goals he scored since the 2013-14 season with the Bruins in the AHL – the same season that earned him those chances in the NHL.

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The first domino as far as retaining members of the 2016-17 Milwaukee Admirals has fallen. The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Andrew O’Brien to a one-year, two-way contract that will keep him in the organization for the 2017-18 season.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, TN – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Wednesday that the club has signed defenseman Andrew O’Brien to a one-year, two-way contract for 2017-18 worth $650,000 at the NHL level and $62,500 at the AHL level.

O’Brien, 24 (11/21/92), was acquired on Jan. 19, 2017, from Anaheim and appeared in 32 games with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2016-17, recording two goals and 10 points along with 36 penalty minutes. The Hamilton, Ontario, native also skated in 10 games for the San Diego Gulls last season, posting two assists.

A 6-foot-4, 208-pound blueliner, who was drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2012 Draft by Anaheim, O’Brien has appeared in 167 career AHL games and registered 40 points (12g-28a) and 216 penalty minutes.

O’Brien was acquired by the Predators from the team that they are now battling in the Western Conference Finals, the Anaheim Ducks, in exchange for Max Görtz. The move appeared to be one that swapped two prospects that simply needed a change of scenery. And that certainly turned into a positive for O’Brien who quickly adjusted to the Admirals and became a great locker room presence as well.

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The Chicago Wolves will no longer be the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues anymore. Instead, the Amtrak Rivals are embarking on a new adventure alongside the latest expansion to the NHL: the Vegas Golden Knights. The agreement begins for the 2017-18 season and was announced as a multi-year deal between the Knights and Wolves.

Press Release via Vegas Golden Knights:

VEGAS (May 16, 2017) – Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee announced today, May 16, that the club has entered into a multi-year affiliation relationship with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, making the Wolves the official AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. Under the terms of the affiliation arrangements, the Golden Knights will be able to transfer players to and from Chicago during the 2017-18 season.

“American Hockey League affiliates play a significant role in the success of all NHL clubs and are we are proud to have the Chicago Wolves as our first in team history,” said Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee. “I would like to thank Don Levin, Wendell Young and the rest of the Wolves organization for their commitment to the game and helping young hockey players grow to reach their full potential as professionals. Chicago is without question one of the strongest, most passionate hockey communities in North America. This is a relationship that we truly believe will be mutually beneficial.”

“If you look at George McPhee’s history, he has always been a general manager who believes that winning is an important part of developing players,” said Wolves owner Don Levin. “Professional playoffs are different than the regular season and he understands that and he wants his players to be ready to win.”

The Wolves finished first in the 2016-17 Central Division and made it to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs before falling to the Grand Rapids Griffins. The team finished with its best regular-season winning percentage (.664) since 2008. The Golden Knights’ first signee, Reid Duke, joined the Wolves on April 7 after signing a professional tryout contract.

The Wolves will be the primary affiliate of the Golden Knights.

Founded as part of the International Hockey League in 1994, the Chicago Wolves have enjoyed two decades of consistent success on the ice as home to some of the most prominent names in American hockey, like Chris Chelios, Troy Murray and Rob Brown. When the IHL folded in 2001, the franchise joined the AHL.

About American Hockey League Affiliates

An American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate is an NHL organization’s highest level of minor league affiliation.

Throughout the season, AHL players will be promoted (“recalled”) to the partner NHL club for a number of reasons. If an NHL player is injured, the team may recall a player from the AHL to temporarily take his place. They can then be sent back down to the minors (“assigned”) for a variety of reasons as well, including when an injured NHL player returns to full health.

Every NHL team has its own affiliate in the AHL, from where more than 88 percent of active NHL players are graduates.

The Vegas Golden Knights are a National Hockey League franchise owned and operated by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment LLC. The Vegas Golden Knights were established by founding partners William Foley and his family and the Maloof family. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights visit vegasgoldenknights.com. Fans can follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

Press Release via Chicago Wolves:

GLENVIEW, Ill. — The Chicago Wolves announced Tuesday that the organization has signed a multi-year partnership with the Vegas Golden Knights, the National Hockey League’s expansion franchise that begins play in 2017-18.

The Wolves, who have earned four league championships, and the Golden Knights have forged an alliance based on their shared belief that winning is a crucial component of the American Hockey League experience. Vegas general manager George McPhee and Wolves owner Don Levin have it written into the teams’ agreement that the goal is to win championships at the AHL level.

“If you look at George McPhee’s history, he has always been a general manager who believes that winning is an important part of developing players,” Levin said. “Professional playoffs are different than the regular season and he understands that and he wants his players to be ready to win.”

During the nine seasons when McPhee served as the Washington Capitals’ GM and the Hershey Bears worked with the Capitals (2005-14), Hershey captured three Calder Cup championships.

“American Hockey League affiliates play a significant role in the success of all NHL clubs and are we are proud to have the Chicago Wolves as our first in team history,” McPhee said. “I would like to thank Don Levin, Wendell Young and the rest of the Wolves organization for their commitment to the game and helping young hockey players grow to reach their full potential as professionals. Chicago is without question one of the strongest, most passionate hockey communities in North America. This is a relationship that we truly believe will be mutually beneficial.”

The Golden Knights have just two players under contract — rookie forward Reid Duke, who spent the final five weeks of the 2016-17 season practicing with the Wolves, and Russian center Vadim Shipachyou — but that will change rapidly as McPhee and his hockey operations staff are in the final stages of preparation for the NHL Expansion Draft (June 18-21) and the NHL Entry Draft (June 23-24 in Chicago).

“We’re starting from the ground up with a new franchise,” said Wolves general manager Wendell Young. “It will be exciting to build both franchises together with the same philosophy.”

The Wolves captured the 2017 Central Division title — their fourth division crown in the last eight years — as the franchise enjoyed its finest regular-season showing (101 points) in seven seasons. The Wolves also reached the Central Division Finals during the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Wolves have multiple ticket packages available for the 2017-18 season, including the opportunity to Call Dibs on a season-ticket seat for just $25. Click here for more information or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.

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The Nashville Predators have officially signed forward Victor Ejdsell to a two-year entry level contract. The 21-year old from Karlstad, Sweden was named the 2016-17 MVP of the Allsvenskan in Sweden’s second division.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, TN – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has signed free-agent forward Victor Ejdsell to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Ejdsell, 21 (6/6/95), was named Swedish second league (Allsvenskan) most valuable player and forward of the year in 2016-17 after leading the league in points (25g-32a-57pts), tying for second in assists, and for third in goals.

The 6-foot-5, 214-pound center split time with Farjestad’s junior and Swedish Hockey League clubs is 2014-15 and 2015-16, captaining the junior squad in 2014-15.

This was a rumored story for awhile. Yet, now that it’s locked in, it’s worth going back to that original report. Ejdsell apparently chose Nashville over the likes of the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.

In addition, while he did sign an entry level contract, Ejdsell signed with HV71 who play in the top flight of the Swedish Hockey League. It is possible that Ejdsell could join HV71 and move to the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL mid-season much the same way that Kevin Fiala did in the 2014-15 season. That said, Ejdsell is older than Fiala right now and could well make the full leap to North America now. Perhaps one extra season tested in the SHL could prove to be beneficial before making that commitment.

Ejdsell will only add to the center depth that the Predators are building. He is a -big- Swede standing at 6’5″ and has some pace to go with his size. In his 2016-17 season played with BIK Karlskoga he produced 57 points (25 goals, 32 assists) in 50 games. It was the first true season in which he wasn’t bouncing around junior academy programs and settling in with a senior team. I believe the results and MVP distinction say enough about how he adapted.

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The American Hockey League have announced the approval for the 2017-18 season’s divisional alignment. The change comes with the arrival of the Belleville Senators, Binghamton Devils, and Laval Rocket. In addition, the new alignment sees an alteration in the Western Conference’s Central Division with the Charlotte Checkers shifting out and into the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division.

Press Release via AHL:

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced that the league’s Board of Governors, convening for its Spring Meeting earlier this week in Chicago, Ill., has approved the following division alignment for the 2017-18 AHL season.

The format for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs will be finalized by the Board of Governors at its Annual Meeting in Hilton Head Island, S.C., July 2-6, and the complete playing schedule for the 2017-18 regular season, which begins Oct. 6, will be announced this summer.

In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the 16th year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2016-17.

Also, the Milwaukee Admirals announced the teams that they will be facing for the 2017-18 season. The teams mentioned include the return of Eastern Conference opposition with the likes of the two teams the Admirals faced in their Calder Cup Finals appearances: the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hershey Bears.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI— American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced that the league’s Board of Governors, convening for its Spring Meeting earlier this week in Chicago, Ill., has approved division alignment for the 2017-18 AHL season.

The Admirals will continue to play in the Central Division of the Western Conference, along with the Chicago Wolves, Cleveland Monsters, Grand Rapids Griffins, Iowa Wild, Manitoba Moose, and Rockford IceHogs. The division is unchanged from last season.

In addition to the divisional alignment, the Admirals unveiled their opponents for next season, which includes match-ups with the Hershey Bears and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Coincidently, those teams were the Admirals opponents in their two appearences in the Calder Cup Finals. The Admirals topped the Penguins 4-0 in 2004 and fell to the Bears 4-2 in the Finals in 2006. However, they haven’t played either team in the regular season since the 2001-02 campaign.
In addition, the Admirals will also face off with the Ontario Reign for the first time. The Reign, the primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, will be in their third year in the AHL next season and play in the Pacific Division. In addition to the Reign, the Admirals will also play the San Diego Gulls and the Stockton Heat from the Pacific.

The Admirals will continue to play a 76-game, unbalanced schedule which includes 38 home contests at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The Chicago Wolves will be the most common opponent at Panther Arena with six match-ups, while the Ads will host Grand Rapids, Iowa and Rockford each five times.

Milwaukee Admirals Opponent Breakdown:

Chicago Wolves…………6
Grand Rapids Griffins…..5
Iowa Wild……………….5
Rockford IceHogs……….5
Cleveland Monsters…….4
Manitoba Moose………..4
San Antonio Rampage….2
Texas Stars………………2
Hershey Bears…………..1
Ontario Reign…………..1
San Diego Gulls….……..1
Stockton Heat…………..1
WBS Penguins………….1

Personally, I am so happy to see the conferences clashing in-season once again. The last time that the Admirals played Eastern Conference opposition was the 2007-08 season when the Manchester Monarchs and Providence Bruins were on the schedule. That is a very welcome change and one that also sees the arrival of the Ontario Reign on the Admirals schedule for the first time as well.

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The Nashville Predators have announced that forward Emil Pettersson has signed a two-year entry level contract with the organization. Pettersson was selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Predators and will be making the leap from Sweden to North America in the 2017-18 season.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, TN – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile today announced that the club has signed forward Emil Pettersson (eh-MIHL PEH-tuhr-suhn) to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Pettersson, 23 (1/14/94), finished ninth in the Swedish Hockey League in points (15g-23a-38pts) while splitting the 2016-17 season between Skelleftea and Vaxjo. The 6-foot-2, 164-pound center has spent the past four seasons in Sweden’s senior leagues, first in the second division with Timra, then at the elite level with Modo, Skelleftea and Vaxjo.

Nashville’s seventh choice, 155th overall (sixth round), in the 2013 Entry Draft, Pettersson is expected to play the 2017-18 season with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals.

That last sentence is an exciting one given how Swedish forwards have done in the pipeline in recent years with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL. Pettersson has spent the last two seasons at the top flight of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the likes of MODO Hockey, Skellefteå AIK, and Växjö Lakers HC. He moved mid-season from Skellefteå to Växjö and managed to really surge offensively. In total, his 2016-17 season with both clubs saw him amass 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) in 51 games. He also produced 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 6 playoff games with Växjö.

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