Canucks News & Rumours: Pettersson, Buium, Lekkerimäki & Camp Taking Shape

He also scored the goal that tied the game after Jonathan Lekkerimäki made a terrific little pass through a defender’s legs. Pettersson deked and put it past Joey Daccord. Later, he drew another penalty and then got into a little trouble of his own after laying out Shane Wright and getting challenged by Ryan Winterton. Let’s just say Pettersson wasn’t exactly hiding in the weeds Saturday night.

Last night was the version of Pettersson Vancouver needs to see more often. Not necessarily spectacular every night. Just involved. Competing. Making things happen.

Zeev Buium Gives the Canucks Something to Think About

Then there’s Zeev Buium. The young defenceman scored on the second power-play unit, and it was a pretty good show. Tom Willander protected the puck on the zone entry, found Linus Karlsson, and Karlsson fed Buium at the back door. Buium made no mistake, putting the puck over Daccord to tie the game.

That’s the kind of play that will get this young defenceman noticed. Buium still will make mistakes. He was involved in the defensive breakdown on Seattle’s third goal, when the Kraken turned a 2-on-1 into a goal. So this wasn’t some “well, the kid has arrived” performance. That’s not how preseason works.

But there was enough there to make Canucks fans relax a bit. Buium showed some confidence with the puck, joined the attack, and looked comfortable enough to be trusted on the power play. That’s not bad for a young defenceman trying to establish himself.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

Maybe that’s what this final preseason game was really about. The Canucks need players to give them reasons to believe the work they’ve been doing in camp is starting to translate onto the ice. Both Pettersson and Buium did just that. So did Lekkerimäki, who came alive after a so-so first period and showed what he might look like in a top-six role.

The Canucks still have roster decisions to make before opening night. But this was a pretty good way to end camp. The preseason doesn’t count for anything in the standings. It does count for something inside the room. On Saturday night, a few Canucks gave Malhotra and his staff something worth scribbling in their notebooks.