Derek Lee and Patrick Present discuss Lucas Pettersson Sweden announced its roster for the upcoming World Junior Championship, which will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Ducks Select Lucas Pettersson With the 35th Overall Pick [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-select-lucas-pettersson-with-the-35th-overall-pick] Anaheim Ducks prospect Lucas Pettersson did not make the final cut. Anaheim selected Pettersson with the 35th pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in June. He was the first Swedish player drafted in 2024. Pettersson attended the Ducks' development camp in July and has played in three tiers of Swedish hockey this season: J20 Nationell, SHL, and HockeyAllsvenskan. He is under contract with MoDo Hockey until the end of the 2026-27 season and has been sporadically playing on loan for Östersunds IK of HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden's second-tier professional league). Pettersson tallied six points in five games at the J20 level, but in minimal minutes throughout 17 SHL games this season, he has managed to contribute just one assist. He was recently returned on loan to Östersunds IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he has two goals in seven games while playing substantially more minutes per game. The Ducks took Pettersson at the top of the second round, highlighting his skating ability and two-way habits. He is on record as modeling his game after William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights. He displays quality defensive tendencies that could earn him a long-term spot on an NHL team, with flashes of creativity and vision that could increase his role in a lineup. "I think right now it's physical stuff," Pettersson said when asked what he felt he needed to work on before adjusting to North American Hockey. "Getting bigger and stronger while playing against bigger guys. Working in tight spaces and situations where you don't have as much time." Pettersson represented Sweden at this summer's Summer Showcase tournament and is likely destined to make Sweden's 2026 World Junior Championship roster. Brian Dumoulin's Impact on the Ducks Blueline [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/brian-dumoulins-impact-on-the-ducks-blueline] Ducks' Top Prospect Snubbed from Canada World Junior Selection Camp [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-top-prospect-snubbed-from-canada-world-junior-selection-camp]
