Elias Pettersson secured his long-term future with the Vancouver Canucks when he signed an eight-year contract March 2, 2024. His international resume was strengthened when he was named to Team Sweden's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. He won a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship and gold at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

Pettersson wasted no time showing he belonged in the NHL after he was taken by the Canucks with the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, with a goal and an assist in his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 3, 2018, then scoring twice with an assist against Calgary three nights later.

He scored five goals in his first five games before a concussion kept him out for two weeks. In his second game back, Pettersson scored twice, then had a five-point night (two goals, three assists) in a 7-6 overtime victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 2.

Pettersson had a second five-point game (one goal, four assists) against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 9, 2018, and scored three goals for his first NHL hat trick against the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 2, 2019. By the NHL All-Star break, he had scored 45 points (23 goals, 22 assists), most among NHL rookies and more than enough to earn a selection in the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game (he was selected again in 2020). He finished with 66 points (28 goals, 38 assists) in 71 games and was voted winner of the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL.

Pettersson gave Vancouver a tentpole player to build around following the retirement of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin after the 2017-18 season. He formed chemistry with linemates Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller early in 2019-20 and was second on the Canucks with 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) when the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

On Oct. 1, 2021, Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, another cornerstone player, each signed a contract with the Canucks, with Pettersson getting three years. He returned after missing two games with an illness that kept him off the ice for six days to get five points (two goals, three assists) in a 6-5 victory against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena on Dec. 22, 2022.

His 30th goal of the 2022-23 season gave Vancouver a 4-3 shootout win against the Nashville Predators on March 6, a game he also got his 300th NHL point (127 goals, 173 assists) in 306 games, making him the second-fastest player to reach the milestone in Canucks history behind Pavel Bure (246 games) and ahead of Alexander Mogilny (307).