The wait for Elias Pettersson's return is over. He will return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup when they face the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.
Just over two weeks after the Canucks' rookie sensation went down with a knee injury, the 20-year-old took part in Saturday's full practice. He told reporters that he could return to the ice for Sunday's game.
"There's a good chance I will be playing [Sunday], but I will check in with the medical team later [Saturday] night and [Sunday] morning and see how I feel, and we'll make the decision after that," Pettersson said.
"There's a good chance I will be playing tomorrow." - @_EPettersson took part in the #Canucks full team practice today and is hopeful to return Sunday. pic.twitter.com/GQ0WicIDyz
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 19, 2019
Pettersson has played in 38 games this season but has missed the last five while recovering from the sprained right knee he suffered on Jan. 3. He has 22 goals and 20 assists thus far in his maiden campaign, putting him well ahead of any other rookie in the NHL.
Canucks fans will surely be looking forward to seeing the young Swede back in uniform, but Pettersson says it may take a little time before he regains the blistering form that has made him the odds-on favourite to win the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie.
"You lose a little bit of your stick-handling and the timing of everything, but as soon as you get back to work and get back up again, it's no problem," Pettersson said of his 17-day layoff.
Pettersson also listed his overall conditioning and shooting as facets of his game that have waned over the past two weeks, although he noted that "it's slowly getting there" over the past few days of practicing with and without his teammates.
Even though he may not be at 100 percent, the rookie is itching to get back onto the ice as soon as possible.
"I don't like to watch hockey, I like to play it, so I'm really hoping to be back [out] there soon," Pettersson said.