Canucks' Pettersson wins NHL Rookie of the Month for a second time

Just give him the Calder Trophy already.

Elias Pettersson has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for December, winning the award for a second time this season.

The Canucks’ leading scorer led all NHL rookies in goals (6), assists (11), points (17), game-winning goals (4), and tied for the lead in plus-minus (+8) in 14 games. Pettersson also won Rookie of the Month in October, but was a runner up in November.

Nobody came close to Pettersson in December. The next highest point-getters were Tampa Bay’s Anthony Cirelli, Toronto’s Andreas Johnsson, and Ottawa’s Colin White, who each finished eight points back.

Pettersson’s remarkable month helped get the Canucks’ season back on the rails, as the team has clawed back into a playoff race. The 20-year-old Swede had four multi-point performances in December, including his second five-point game of the season against St Louis on December 9. He’s just the sixth rookie since 1967 to record multiple five-point games in a single season and just the second to achieve the feat before the end of December.

A lock for the Calder Trophy if he stays healthy, Pettersson leads all first-year players this season in goals (19), assists (20), points (39), power-play goals (tied, 5), power-play assists (7), power-play points (12), and game-winning goals (6).

On top of his Monthly Rookie awards, Pettersson has captured First Star of the Week (December 10) and Second Star of the Week (November 5) this season.

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