Prospect Info: Henrik Borgström (2016, #23 overall), Univ. of Denver (NCAA), signed ELC on 3/26/2018

[Panthers Propaganda]

Just watched his interview the Panthers posted on FB.

Wow, if personability, and likeability are factors this kids my first overall. He seems ecstatic. Seems to like Nachos...welcome to the team Nachos.

 

[Ghoste]

Just watched his interview the Panthers posted on FB.

Wow, if personability, and likeability are factors this kids my first overall. He seems ecstatic. Seems to like Nachos...welcome to the team Nachos.

Awww, kinda heartbreaking when he talked about having zero interviews at last year's draft in Florida and he knew nobody wanted him.

Good for the kid now though.

-ghoste

 

[J17 Vs Proclamation]

This kid is 5 years away, minimum. He makes Huberdeau look like Hulk Hogan. In 5 years our needs could be different.

Development is whacky and wild. It's a bit silly being so definitive (as i've learnt in the past, e.g Brickley). Who knows.

I think the organisation seems confident that it can take risks, or bet on it's own ability, hence the pick. I don't think the 1st round was that strong this year.

Though if and who called him the most skilled player in the draft (quoted from another poster), that's more than just a little hopeful.

 

[Brokin]

pick #23

Here's Tom Rowe and crew walk up and announcement. Tallon chewing gum and giving somebody a ear twist at a table (probably the Las Vegas owners kid). He and his parents are both thrilled. Very nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPyk4d9yNpk

 

[ursavolta]

Not on Youtube yet so:

https://www.facebook.com/Flapanthers/

Well he is way ahead of Barkov in the English speaking dept when he came over. Seems pretty comfortable here.

Here's Tom Rowe and crew walk up and announcement. He and his parents are both thrilled. Very nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPyk4d9yNpk

Here's his interview. it's 4+ minutes long.

Can't help myself.. I was smiling while watching it.. very genuine kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-5JFIg9fU

 

[Brokin]

Here's his interview. it's 4+ minutes long.

Can't help myself.. I was smiling while watching it.. very genuine kid.

Thanks, I changed it.

Gives you a good feeling what a natural he is and the fact he's under control with the pressure of the media. Has great composure at such a young age and you can't help but like him.

 

[EnforceTheLaus]

Here's his interview. it's 4+ minutes long.

Can't help myself.. I was smiling while watching it.. very genuine kid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-5JFIg9fU

Haha he is like the opposite of Barkov personality wise. Excited to see him at the prospect camp.

 

[Gentle Man]

Send this kid to Gary Roberts, then to Jagr Camp

 

[Crossbar]

Petr Taticek says hello, hopefully Henrik will pan out better than that selection did for us, would have rather used the pick as part of a package for immediate help.

 

[Gentle Man]

Nothing intriguing + an overager with the #23... effin great.

Seeing your evaluation of Kulikov, I'm now beaming with confidence about this pick

 

[AwesomePanthers]

Off the and overager. Im disappointed..

 

[Brokin]

Watched the game. Most of his starts from what I could see were in the O zone and rightfully so. He definitely has a long slow stride and I'm going to guess that's because of his 9" growth spurt and the rest of his body hasn't caught up. I think it was Batting that said he had back pain from the growth spurt the season before this last one. A good strength and conditioning program followed by an off season of working with a solid power skating instructor should help. Seems to be fair in the circle and that should improve with strength. Said he really likes the C position and Denver has promised him a slot. The game was very tight checking with Borgstrom's team G making a number of breakaway and odd man rush saves. Nice facility they have in Turku

 

[gcattei]

Love the kids personality. No idea how he will pan out overall, but they say he has flair and a "crowd pleaser", so i look fwd to following his journey....

 

[Teukka]

Göran Stubb, the Director of NHL European scouting (and a Finn) has been shameless about bringing his name up in the build-up:

"Stubb: He is Finland's next junior star" from January:
https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2016/01/07/stubb-han-ar-finlands-nasta-juniorstjarna

"Dark Horse for the Draft first round", a week back:
http://www.iltalehti.fi/nhl/2016061421730037_nh.shtml

I trust that Göran Stubb is a true professional, but my first instinctive thougt is that this hype was due to homerism among Swedish-speaking Finns (basically the Finnish version of Quebec homerism). I truly hope that he just sees a talent set that would be overlooked without extra hype.

 

[Jacob Roberts]

Great interview. Extremely thoughtful. Took time to give real and honest answers. Excited to see what he can do in college.

 

[Juggernaut27]

I trust that Göran Stubb is a true professional, but my first instinctive thougt is that this hype was due to homerism among Swedish-speaking Finns (basically the Finnish version of Quebec homerism). I truly hope that he just sees a talent set that would be overlooked without extra hype.

I wondered a bit about the names. When they announced Borgstrom I thought we drafted a Swede.

 

[BabyBennettov]

Great character kid, great interview, just seems so honest and funny... The pick is growing on me...

But I just love the kid, the person... So awkward !

 

[ijuka]

I've heard good things about him but u-20s in Finland aren't really something that's readily available to watch.

Next season in NCAA will tell us a lot. He has to gain like 20 pounds to be NHL ready so there's at least a couple of years of time.

I've heard that he's extremely skilled offensively, and while he's an overager it's just 1 month, nothing groundbreaking.


I had him as a sleeper first rounder personally but I still was surprised to see him go #23. Was thinking more like 28-30.

 

[JP Mick]

So many new faces on stage when they announced the pick! Nice to see Yandle up there chatting with McCabe.
This kid seems like such a great character, I hope he pans out. The new jersey looks really nice too.

 

[floridada]

Great character kid, great interview, just seems so honest and funny... The pick is growing on me...

But I just love the kid, the person... So awkward !

I agree. He sounds genuinely pumped to be here too. He must know we love Finns.

 

[Lempo]

I wondered a bit about the names. When they announced Borgstrom I thought we drafted a Swede.

I myself went initially googling for Henrik Björkqvist, in the best Granlund fashion.

 

[BabyBennettov]

I agree. He sounds genuinely pumped to be here too. He must know we love Finns.

He already cracks me up !

Also for the analytics-fans, some guy on Sportsnet just noted that off his 29 goals and 26 assists in 40 games, 41 of those 55 points were primary-points... It was funny hearing those guys on SN talking about this being our "analytics-pick", yet from all we've heard so far, he was a Kekelainen-pick (one of the guy rumored to have more and more power in amateur scouting with new management team)...

 

[Dread Clawz]

Development is whacky and wild. It's a bit silly being so definitive (as i've learnt in the past, e.g Brickley). Who knows.

I think the organisation seems confident that it can take risks, or bet on it's own ability, hence the pick. I don't think the 1st round was that strong this year.

Though if and who called him the most skilled player in the draft (quoted from another poster), that's more than just a little hopeful.

Well, he's definitely someone who's game needs a lot of work. Skating, defensive play, etc. And he needs to put on a lot of mass. I would assume 3 years at least in college, no reason to bring him out any sooner. Then 1-2 years in the AHL I think is reasonable. We are so loaded with young offensive talent, I don't see him cracking the Panthers roster soon after college. Maybe he's 4 years away, but definitely not sooner than that.

Someone compared him to Bjugstad. Bjugstad was considered a long term project, but this kid is a loooooong term project. It still took Bjugstad over 3 years to crack the Panthers lineup. And he always had that muscle mass and man strength, whereas Borgstrom doesnt. The organization is also deeper than it was 3 years ago, so there's no need to rush a top prospect into the lineup right away.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I trust that Göran Stubb is a true professional, but my first instinctive thougt is that this hype was due to homerism among Swedish-speaking Finns (basically the Finnish version of Quebec homerism). I truly hope that he just sees a talent set that would be overlooked without extra hype.

Stubbs seems very professional and I like his evaluation of Euro prospects. He was right on the money with Barkov. So I take his word at face value.

 

[Mogo]

I wondered a bit about the names. When they announced Borgstrom I thought we drafted a Swede.

I'm finnish and I thought we drafted a swede and when they said IFK I was sure they meant AIK (from sweden) or something like that.