STL fan in MN
Registered User
- Aug 16, 2007
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I think you nailed it!Found my notes from Sweden u18 and feel relevant today:
Sweden U18 thoughts-
sweden and us were by far the 2 best teams. they dominated tournament. the americans had the most offensive firepower, but the 3 best d i saw in the tourney were all swedish. and i don't think it was close. all 3 look like 1st rounders to me. and their other d all looked farily good too and might be worth mid round pick. but its ASP, lindstein, and willander that really shone.
ASP is probably the best of the bunch today, but his size remains a concern. it's not just height, it's frame. he is maybe 5'11 but he is thin. he looks willing to engage physically but i question how he will hold up at that. he has offensive skill but maybe not high end. i think he will be good nhl player but one whose usage you may need to manage. i think i would take him in 20s but suspect someone else is more bullish on him and he goes higher.
lindstein i really like. he is such a smart player. more defensive than offensive, but has great mobility and excels in transition. think better defending nick leddy. i think he plays in all situations, but probably not much pp time. that will brand him as 2nd pairing guy and hurt his draft stock, which means someone could get excellent value. i haven't seen the russians, but have seen at least some game action of most every other d prospect rumored to go in first couple rounds. to me, lindstein is clearly the best lhd in this draft. i think i would take him anytime after 20 but would listen to argument he should be higher..
Willander is guy who has really grown on me. he was exceptional in this tourney. smooth skater, good escapability, physical edge- he looks like prototypical modern defenseman. i'm not saying he will be as good as heiskanen or mcavoy, but i've come around that he may have most upside of any d in this draft. his offense seems only limited by his swedishness- playing bit conservatively at times. he will be at BU next year and teaming with lane hutson should help him tap into that offensive potential. i think his stock is rising and i don't think he will be there with one of our later picks. this won't be popular opinion in forum, but i don't know that i would pass on him with our own 1st.
the forwards are not quite as exciting, as i don't see liekly 1st line upside in any, but some intriguing middle 6 guys. stenberg looks like clear 1st rounder. i think i would be happy with him after 20. speed and skill, decent size. can play c or wing. showed vision and skill. edstrom looks really interesting. big center, some skill, maybe 2nd line upside. i honestly think he is as good as danielson (as i said elsewhere earlier). feel like he would be good pick starting at about 20 too. wahlberg, big center, flashed good speed, some skill (less than the 2 i mentioned above i think). feels like a early-mid 2nd rounder. there were other forwards that kinda run together to me that i think would be worth a look starting round 3.
This prompted me to dig as well and look for what I wrote after the US-Sweden gold medal game:
All in all, I’m happy with the draft and look forward to seeing how these guys match up with our other top prospects starting tomorrow. Hopefully the camp will be streamed like it was last year.Lindstien, I hadn’t followed much before this tourney. I’d rate him as a late 1st rounder now. Super solid defensively. Not really seeing why most rankings have him as a borderline 2nd-3rd round guy but wouldn’t be surprised to see him shoot up the rankings as they’re finalized. What stinks for him is Brynas got relegated so he’ll be moving to the Allsvenskan from the SHL next season.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Stenberg goes top-15. Would now be surprised if he doesn’t go in the 1st.