Lucas Pettersson’s first big step in North America is coming fast, and the Anaheim Ducks prospect has already checked off a few boxes along the way.
The Ducks took Pettersson in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 35th overall, and he spent most of last season with Brynas IF in the SHL. He also got a chance to represent Team Sweden at the World Juniors, then finished his year by crossing over to North America for his AHL debut with the San Diego Gulls at the end of their season.
Pettersson’s SHL numbers took a major jump this past season. After managing one assist in 29 games in 2024-2025, he broke through with 10 goals and 20 points in 41 games this season.
That put him seventh on Brynas in goals and ninth in points. He also missed several games in January because of an illness that came after the World Juniors.
Brynas reached the playoffs and fell to Vaxjo, but Pettersson stayed productive there. He appeared in all five postseason games and picked up four assists, tying for third on the team in both assists and points. He shared the Brynas locker room with fellow Anaheim prospect Damian Clara and former Duck Jakob Silfverberg.
At the World Juniors, Pettersson made a real impression for Sweden. In six games, he scored four goals and six points, which left him tied for second on the team in goals.
He also served as one of Sweden’s alternate captains. His biggest night came against the United States, when he scored twice, including the game winner while Sweden was shorthanded.
He missed the semifinal, then came back in time for Sweden’s gold medal win over Czechia.
Once Brynas’ season ended, Pettersson joined the Gulls and played four games, finishing without a point. He did not appear in either of San Diego’s playoff games. Still, there were moments in those four contests that showed both his offensive touch and his defensive awareness.
That finish lined up with the expectations from last summer, when the idea was for Pettersson to make clear progress in several areas. He did.
He was much more productive offensively, he stayed in the SHL all season instead of dropping into the HockeyAllsvenskan league, and he made it to the World Juniors after being one of the final cuts the year before. He did more than simply get there, too - he left with a gold medal.
Now the next challenge is a bigger one. Pettersson is set to be a full-time member of the Gulls next season, but the competition for ice time is real.
Herman Traff and Roger McQueen are also just beginning their AHL careers, while Nico Myatovic and Yegor Sidorov already have more AHL experience. Add in veterans like Matthew Phillips, Ryan Carpenter, and Travis Howe, and nothing about a nightly role is guaranteed.
The goals for Pettersson are straightforward. He needs to play in most of San Diego’s games, stay out of the ECHL, and get work on both special teams units.
If he handles that first AHL season well, an NHL call-up could come as early as this year. More likely, though, he spends the next couple of seasons adjusting to the North American game and sharpening his all-around play.
If that happens, his NHL debut would likely arrive in the 2028-2029 season.
Pettersson’s entry-level contract, signed last summer, begins this coming season. He will be a restricted free agent in three years when it expires.
If he develops into a reliable AHL contributor, the Ducks could bring him back on a two-way deal. If he reaches the NHL, a one-way deal could be on the table.
If his game does not translate well in North America, Anaheim could decide not to qualify him and let him hit free agency.
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