The Calgary Flames have signed prospect Mathias Emilio Pettersen to an entry-level contract. The deal is for three years, which will take Pettersen through 2022-23. Hockey operations are still suspending across North America but that isn’t stopping Calgary from making deals. The team announced the move Monday afternoon.
EMILIO!
The #Flames have signed forward @pettersenm20 to a three-year entry-level contract. https://t.co/xpp5wNko9Z
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 27, 2020
Flames Sign Mathias Emilio Pettersen
Pettersen spent 2019-20 with the University of Denver at the NCAA level. The 20-year-old was having a very solid year with 13 goals and 35 points in 36 games before the rest of the season was cancelled. Pettersen played for two years in Denver with 19 goals and 65 points in 76 games total. He has also represented his home nation of Norway on the international stage. He played with the country’s U20 squad at the WJC-20 tournament in 2018-19 and scored three goals and six points in four games. The Flames drafted Petterson in the sixth-round of the 2018 Draft.
Our own Ben Kerr reviewed Petterson before this season and broke down what he brings to the table. He is a strong skater with good speed and excellent acceleration. The skating ability is what lets him elude defenders and either position himself to make a pass or receive a feed from his teammates. He is only listed at 5’10”, 170 pounds so he will need to add some weight. That will allow him to stick with the puck more easily avoid getting pushed around. He looks like a fine middle-six option with some second power-play upside after more development.
What This Means for the Future
The Flames have one of the weakest prospect pools but Pettersen could be a sneaky late-round find. He has several skills that could translate to the professional game. He will spend at least one or two seasons with Calgary’s AHL affiliate in Stockton with a chance to make the NHL in his three-year deal.
Calgary still has to make some big decisions regarding its roster. Most of the defence is nearing free agency and several interesting forwards need new deals as well. We do not know when hockey will resume but Calgary will be among the busier teams when it does.
Main Photo:
