This may belong in the Bruins prospects thread
Without trying to impress here, I wrote an earlier post that Linus would stay in Sweden and play at the highest level with his old team.
Linus is a good guy besides a good hockey player and he knows it won't be easy, even finding a regular spot on Djurgården team. I'm pretty sure he will however.
The goal set for Djurgården is to reestablish them as a perennial playoff team.
They have already signed a top defenseman and a couple of forwards and they will spend more. They have a real good program from the peewees all the way up to their top squad. They have two defensemen who are highly rated for the draft this year.
So I am all for this decision and it can only help Linus getting stronger and better skill wise on the big ice surface. The rest will be done in the gym.
Read some comments about Linus from players and fans and they all said very much the same. While congratulations on the contract, they thought it was wise to stay for another year. Unless they call on him after Christmas but I consider that remote.
The Bruins are quite established in the scouting department here, and get solid accurate updated reports from the scouts here.
The Bruins have three scouts within less than an hour away from Linus home rink.
Veteran scout Sven Ake Svensson whose been with the Bruins since early 1990.
PJ Axelsson is new onboard lives in "Frolunda country" (top juniors all the way, where Anton Blidh plays) down the west coast.
Across the pond in Finland we have highly regarded scout Juukka Holtari. Holtari is the Director of Player Personell of Finnish Elite team Jyväskylä JYP.
Safe to say when Don Sweeney came here, he was very well informed how Linus had progressed and like mentioned he is the typical character the Bruins are looking for and was rewarded for it. No need for the Bruins to rush their prospects.
On a sidenote:
It was interesting to hear what Matt Grzelcyk, told Kirk Luedeke, about Linus Arnesson.
I had the pleasure of watching both from close range at the World Jrs. It's telling that Grzelcyk, who instantly became a favorite of mine, his brilliant mind set of knowing how to play the game. He take notice of small things that bring big help to him on the ice.
They are quite different as defensemen come. Arnesson is taller, plays it safe, within his limits, but a steady player.
Matt Grzelcyk was dominating in the tournament. Grzelcyk looked much bigger than listed, supremely confident in taken charge on ice. Especially on the power play. I was really surprised the way Grzelcyk handled himself on the ice.
Defensively, he didn't seem to have any problems, handling heavy forechecking by the Euro countries, or along the boards as most NA defensemen had on that big ice surface. Players seemed to just bounce off him. In fact he looked very strong and balanced.
His skating is at A+ . . I hope he recovers in time to start the season.
So the Bruins now have plenty of hope in future defensemen as Joe Morrow was excellent in Providence.
Guess there is a timetable for each, but, I have never experienced such a deep group of potential prospects today or near future.
