Prospect Info: 135th overall (2017): Vancouver selects D Kristoffer Gunnarsson (Frolunda)

[cc]

these are cederholm and gunnarson's writeups on eliteprospect

I think when cederholm is described as "not the fastest skater" translates into not a good skater

They describe gannarsson as a decent skater

 

[canuckslover10]

Tbh this is the 1st pick i dont like and 135 i dont mind and considering the previous picks i would say this is bennings first blunder to me but one i could live with

 

[MS]

Gross pick. Pretty much an instant bust.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Cederholm comparable.

Oh well... at least he should be able to go straight to Utica.

 

[ScottishCanuck]

Lets be honest, few if any of you have ever seen him play a game.

I think it would be hilarious if he turned out to be a solid D given the amount of whingeing in this thread.

 

[F A N]

It seems like we draft a defensive Dman out of Sweden every few years.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Lets be honest, few if any of you have ever seen him play a game.

I think it would be hilarious if he turned out to be a solid D given the amount of whingeing in this thread.

Seen enough drafts to know that's nearly impossible from an overage who has never really done anything.

 

[NoShowWilly]

Lets be honest, few if any of you have ever seen him play a game.

I think it would be hilarious if he turned out to be a solid D given the amount of whingeing in this thread.

ill gladly laugh at myself. i have zero issues doing that. This pick sucks.

hopefully the guy doesn't read hfboards. We are jackasses.

 

[Tim Calhoun]

It looks like a bad pick, but this guy has been playing against men for two seasons now. Those who are criticizing his production need to realize that most defenders his age don't even play at that level at all, let alone put up points.

Let's hope he moves up Frolunda's depth chart next season. Look at his game logs in the 10 SHL games he played:

http://www.shl.se/lag/087a-087aTQv9u__frolunda-hc/qQ9-62316fDCK__kristoffer-gunnarsson/gamelog

Guy had almost no icetime. I wonder what kind of turnover Frolunda's blueline is having. I know Tommernes is playing in Switzerland next year and he was their best player, and Jacob Larsson should be with the Ducks full time.

 

[jeromemorrow]

Wasn't entirely happy with this pick at first because Tyszka was available (14th picks later)... but i've come around on this pick. He's a punishing dman and I think is eligible for Utica this year? Will he come over is the question?

We need more guys in the defensive pipeline since we picked Rathbone who won't be eligible for 2-3.5 years from now at least.

If we have the Gudbransons, Pedans, Briseboises and Sbisas of the world, the bar isn't very high for Gunnarsson to beat. Seems like a solid shutdown guy potential ... too bad we gotta face McDavid-Draisatl / Kopitar-Vilardi / Monahan-Gaudreau / Strome-Duclair-Joseph for the next little while..

I love Swedish players anyways

 

[FroshaugFan2]

It looks like a bad pick, but this guy has been playing against men for two seasons now. Those who are criticizing his production need to realize that most defenders his age don't even play at that level at all, let alone put up points.

Let's hope he moves up Frolunda's depth chart next season. Look at his game logs in the 10 SHL games he played:

http://www.shl.se/lag/087a-087aTQv9u__frolunda-hc/qQ9-62316fDCK__kristoffer-gunnarsson/gamelog

Guy had almost no icetime.

He had zero points in 38 SuperElit games his original draft year. I think that's worthy of some criticism.

 

[Pip]

Lets be honest, few if any of you have ever seen him play a game.

I think it would be hilarious if he turned out to be a solid D given the amount of whingeing in this thread.

Just like we all looked stupid after considering Stewart to be an automatic bust.

 

[Tim Calhoun]

He had zero points in 38 SuperElit games his original draft year. I think that's worthy of some criticism.

Yeah, which is why he wasn't drafted then. As I said, it looks like a bad pick.

However to go from zero points in the junior league, to playing in the world juniors and having a full season against men two years later should indicate a relatively steep development curve.

We'll see if he gets regular role in Frolunda next season. They're a top club, so if he does that should be a good sign.

 

[The Iron Goalie]

Just like we all looked stupid after considering Stewart to be an automatic bust.

Haha, good old Mac Stewart.

Gunnarsson, at least from the WJC games I watched, can make effective breakout passes (so he's no Sbisa/Gudbranson) plays the body, and is a good skater. While not exceptional, he has solid hockey iq, and makes good safe plays. Not really a Stewart/Cedeholm comparable for me outside of the defense first style. Likely projects as a 6/7 D in the NHL of all goes well, but we'll see.

 

[MS]

Lets be honest, few if any of you have ever seen him play a game.

I think it would be hilarious if he turned out to be a solid D given the amount of whingeing in this thread.

If he can't generate any offended at any of the levels he's played at, it's EXCEEDINGLY unlikely that he has the skill level to play in the NHL, and he'll be a massive outlier if he does.

 

[Verviticus]

Gross pick. Pretty much an instant bust.

yeah this is basically throwing a pick in the garbage. there are dozens of overagers we could have just signed if we wanted young utica depth

 

[F A N]

Like I said, we draft a zero offense defensive Dman out of Sweden every few years: Cederholm, Peter Andersson, Rahimi. Who is responsible for this?

 

[M2Beezy]

Id be a liar if i knew ANYTHING about any draft picks around this range but hopefully works out for us so does he go to AHL next year or echl maybe???

 

[Rotting Corpse*]

Id be a liar if i knew ANYTHING about any draft picks around this range but hopefully works out for us so does he go to AHL next year or echl maybe???

We would have to sign him to a contract first, and that is probably never happening.

 

[BassMason]

Like I said, we draft a zero offense defensive Dman out of Sweden every few years: Cederholm, Peter Andersson, Rahimi. Who is responsible for this?

If we're going to give Gradin credit for the good Swedish picks I think we have to put the bad ones on him too. Unless we have more than one Swedish scout which would shock me.

 

[Bitz and Bites]

We definitely need some physical shut down defenders but spending a pick in the top half of the draft for an unrated player with no discernible offensive upside doesn't seem like good drafting strategy.I'd be ok with Gunnarsson in the 6th or 7th round but 135th seems too high.

I don't mind the player,though,it sounds like there's something there with his WJC selection and being able to compete with men at his age.

 

[Canucks5551]

If we're going to give Gradin credit for the good Swedish picks I think we have to put the bad ones on him too. Unless we have more than one Swedish scout which would shock me.

There's Inge Hammarstrom as well

 

[Zombotron]

There's Inge Hammarstrom as well

Inge Hammarstrom and Lars Lindgren

 

[Canucks5551]

Inge Hammarstrom and Lars Lindgren

Lindgren's job title is pro scout, so not really the same thing, assuming the Canucks' site is correct.

 

[Zombotron]

Lindgren's a pro scout? Mea culpa.