Posting some of the blurbs of our guys from the Athletic wrap ups:
From Pronmans' standouts and disappointments:
Standouts:
Sweden’s blue line
As I write this, I don’t know who the IIHF will name the top defenseman in the tournament. I presume it will be someone on Sweden. Their defense unit was the best part of their team, but I personally didn’t see one name rise above the rest. Elias Pettersson (VAN), Mattias Havelid (SJS), Theo Lindstein (STL), Tom Willander (VAN), Elias Salomonsson (WPG) and Axel Sandin Pellikka (DET) all played well. All six of those players skate well, moved pucks efficiently and competed hard. Sandin Pellikka provided important power play offense. Lindstein was a story of the tournament coming in as an injury replacement and being a top player for Sweden. Pettersson, Salomonsson and Willander were very solid defenders who made life tough on opponents and Willander’s skating often stood out.
Disappointments:
Dalibor Dvorsky, C, St. Louis (Slovakia)
Dvorsky’s tournament was up and down. He was actually good in the quarterfinal versus Finland, but given his significant skill level, and being a near-two-point-per-game player in the OHL, finishing fourth on Slovakia in scoring was a letdown. Dvorsky flashed his great skill and offensive sense, but I thought his effort in the round robin was in and out, which to go with a lack of pace in his game isn’t an ideal combination. That’s been the story of his season, and why he had trouble playing against men in the first half in Sweden before coming to the OHL. He’s very talented but Dvorsky does need to find a way to become a bit more consistent.
Wheeler:
Jimmy Snuggerud (F, St. Louis Blues): Around it. Sticking with plays. Going to scoring areas. Wrister coming off of his blade hard and quickly. Stronger than his opponents on pucks/stick lifts. Showed great touch as a passer. Missed preliminary round finale with bug, and while he was placed on the fourth line when he got back for a couple of games because Oliver Moore had played well in his absence, he was back on that unit for the second half of the semi and the gold medal game.
Otto Stenberg (F, St. Louis Blues): Stenberg only played 14 minutes a game in a third-line role but he still found ways to manufacture offense, spend his shifts in the offensive zone, and contribute on special teams. Everybody loves a worker with skill. That’s his game and he plays to his identity to a tee. Doesn’t try to do too much but makes things happen and is opportunistic. A model of consistency (point in every game to show for it).
Theo Lindstein (D, St. Louis Blues): Lindstein was a late addition to injuries to Calle Odelius and Jakob Noren on Sweden’s backend, and he didn’t just not look out of place, he was tremendous on a pairing with Tom Willander. He has typically been a steady two-way type for the Swedes but he showed some real creativity and offense throughout without sacrificing his reliable game defensively. Very impressive for an 18-year-old.
Dalibor Dvorsky (F, St. Louis Blues): Controls and protects the puck so well. Shot flashed in moments. Good in the faceoff circle. A go-to player as the third-youngest and a fourth-timer on the team. Skating still missing a step, but the rest of a talented middle-sixer is there. Dangerous on the PP with his shot/feel on the puck as a passer.
Juraj Pekarcik (F, St. Louis Blues): Noticeable in puck protection, both on the perimeter and in holding pucks to attack into the slot off his hip. Noticeable off the rush with his speed, gaining a step on defenders. I thought he was Slovakia’s best forward against USA to close out the preliminary round and he caught my eye consistently for an 18-year-old. Has some tools to work with.