Prospect Info: Mikael Wikstrand

[Micklebot]

here's a thought on wikstrand from friedman he did today in his ''30 thoughts''

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-flames-face-deadline-crossroads/

''26. Ottawa has eight defensemen under contract for next season, and it will be interesting to see how mikael wikstrand figures into their plans. The swedish defender, a seventh-round pick in 2012, developed well and plans to be in north america. He’ll be 22 in november, and should get a good look in training camp. It’s no secret the senators have looked at moving a defenceman, and he’s another reason they wouldn’t mind doing so. ''

 

[DylanSensFan]

Wikstrand: http://www.shl.se/shl-arena/39163/a...L/All/All/FHC/All/All/All/dec?lang=sv&count=0

Playing top pairing minutes on a top-3 team in SHL.
Most TOI/GP on his team while being Frolunda's youngest defenceman. Currently on a 5-game point streak. Played 27:40 last game.

This is what I want to hear... could care less about his points total.

 

[EK47]

Wikstrand: http://www.shl.se/shl-arena/39163/a...L/All/All/FHC/All/All/All/dec?lang=sv&count=0

Playing top pairing minutes on a top-3 team in SHL.
Most TOI/GP on his team while being Frolunda's youngest defenceman. Currently on a 5-game point streak. Played 27:40 last game.

27:40 is a lot more for an SHL defenseman than it is for an NHL defenseman. Mostly due to the fact that you are allowed to ice four pairings instead of three.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Anyone have any info on this kidthat watches him?Producing well in the shl but still only 3rd most points for a dman on the team.

He is solid offensive player and PP dynamo but has improved his overall game a lot since first entering SHL.

Has pivot and first step issues(not huge but preventing him from being a real top flight prospect).

That has improved apparently a little and should even more with Sens brass. He's been playing some really good hockey lately.

Has top 4 potential IMO and maybe even more if his skating improves and adds more muscle.

P.S. I seen some posters post him at LD. He is a RD.

 

[EXTRAS]

Here's a little something on Wikstrand from Friedman he did today in his ''30 thoughts''

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-flames-face-deadline-crossroads/

''26. Ottawa has eight defensemen under contract for next season, and it will be interesting to see how Mikael Wikstrand figures into their plans. The Swedish defender, a seventh-round pick in 2012, developed well and plans to be in North America. He’ll be 22 in November, and should get a good look in training camp. It’s no secret the Senators have looked at moving a defenceman, and he’s another reason they wouldn’t mind doing so. ''

Mik?

 

[EXTRAS]

Or is this Mik? This must be Mik, yes?

 

[dumbdick]

Ever since WJHC this is the prospect I've been most excited about.

 

[Micklebot]

He is solid offensive player and PP dynamo but has improved his overall game a lot since first entering SHL.

Has pivot and first step issues(not huge but preventing him from being a real top flight prospect).

That has improved apparently a little and should even more with Sens brass. He's been playing some really good hockey lately.

Has top 4 potential IMO and maybe even more if his skating improves and adds more muscle.

P.S. I seen some posters post him at LD. He is a RD.

Well, he's a left handed shot. Is he playing Right D now just because of the roster situation in Frolunda, or has he always played the off side? What really matters is where he'll play once over here, so if it's the former, it's nice that he can do both, if it's the latter, well, idk what that means tbh.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Here's a little something on Wikstrand from Friedman he did today in his ''30 thoughts''

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-flames-face-deadline-crossroads/

''26. Ottawa has eight defensemen under contract for next season, and it will be interesting to see how Mikael Wikstrand figures into their plans. The Swedish defender, a seventh-round pick in 2012, developed well and plans to be in North America. He’ll be 22 in November, and should get a good look in training camp. It’s no secret the Senators have looked at moving a defenceman, and he’s another reason they wouldn’t mind doing so. ''

Surely a year in the AHL to adapt to the small ice is going to be needed.

I'd much rather see them work Claesson into the lineup next year, and see if Wikstrand is ready in 2016.

 

[Dr.Sens(e)]

Surely a year in the AHL to adapt to the small ice is going to be needed.

I'd much rather see them work Claesson into the lineup next year, and see if Wikstrand is ready in 2016.

He'll be on the outside looking in to start, with an opportunity to crack the team at some point, based on his actual play.

I think part of it will depend on who is moved. If Wiercioch is moved, they may give Wikstrand a bit more of a look at some point given we'll want a puck mover a PP guy. If Phillips, Gryba, Cowen and Borowiecki are all here, it makes it a lot tougher for Claessen to make the team, given he would fill a similar defensive role on a pair to those four guys. Wikstrand might be the next call up then. Of course, Wikstrand will compete with Wideman, who is a better skater and has an elite season in Bingo under his belt. But Wikstrand is the apple of the eye of a few of our senior guys, including Dorion who gushes about him every chance he can, so if he thrives in a half season of Bingo, he might jump right up next year like Ceci did. He is 22 after all, with some decent elite level hockey under his belt internationally.

If Wiercioch stays, and one of the above four defensive guys gets moved, Claessen is probably 7th on the depth chart out of the gate, which means he'll get 40 NHL games at least next year, just based on injuries and being next in line. And I think Claessen has put a lot of time in the AHL already, so at some point, the Sens need to reward the kid with a decent call-up, or he might just start considering an SEL gig in the next year or so.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Well, he's a left handed shot. Is he playing Right D now just because of the roster situation in Frolunda, or has he always played the off side? What really matters is where he'll play once over here, so if it's the former, it's nice that he can do both, if it's the latter, well, idk what that means tbh.

RD has always been his main position but tbh, it looks like he is capable of playing LD just as good.

Watch this video for better idea of type of style Vikstrand plays-- he seems to play both positions.

(Btw watch 3:00 for da dangles and the next play stopping Yakupov to the net).

Having Karlsson, Ceci, Vikstrand on RD could be amazing. Solid puck mover in all 3 pairings. Then pair them with Methot/Cowen/Boro(or Claesson) den watch da magic happen.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I wonder if his skating issues are a bigger problem in the SHL than they would be in the NHL. Because of the bigger ice. If he's agile enough I don't see a problem with him getting around the smaller ice.

 

[Sensinitis]

Skating problems are always more evident in the NHL

 

[Micklebot]

Skating problems are always more evident in the NHL

I disagree. Skating issues are more evident at higher levels, but for example, in international tournaments, some of the lower end skaters that are well established in the NHL have been known to be somewhat exposed.

 

[Sensinitis]

You're right, but that's an even higher level than the NHL.

 

[Dr.Sens(e)]

Skating problems are always more evident in the NHL

Yup. D-men in the NHL are not really supposed to let the opposing forward get wide and establish possession deep in the zone. You want to wash him out on the boards or wrap him up at least.

In Europe, d-men don't bother with this, because the forwards are so far from the center of the ice, they are less of a threat to make a play. Many NHL d-men who go over there have to adjust. So d-men can and should play less aggressively to a degree and just cover the main zone at the center of the ice, instead of turning and skating with the forward to cut him off along the boards.

That ability to quickly rotate and turn with the forward with speed is really important in the NHL.

 

[starling]

This just happened: Wikstrand skickar pucken mot mål och Lehkonen styr in den.

Whatever it means.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

This just happened: Wikstrand skickar pucken mot mål och Lehkonen styr in den.

Whatever it means.

shoot puck on net lehkonen saves it is my assumption

 

[Whippet]

This just happened: Wikstrand skickar pucken mot mål och Lehkonen styr in den.

Whatever it means.

"Wikstrand shoots the puck and Lehkonen (plays for Frölunda aswell) deflects it in with his stick".

 

[Micklebot]

This just happened: Wikstrand skickar pucken mot mål och Lehkonen styr in den.

Whatever it means.

Google translate suggests the following:

Wikstrand is a Bust. Bust is a bust, this guy is a bust.


Wait, sry, I had the language settings wrong, It's really this:
Wikstrand sends the puck on goal and Lehkonen control it

 

[Micklebot]

"Wikstrand shoots the puck and Lehkonen (plays for Frölunda aswell) deflects it in with his stick".

I like your translation better. Stupid Google translate is a bust.

 

[Whippet]

MoDo are doing their best honouring the retirement of Peter Forsbergs jersey before the game by being down 6-1 in the beginning of the third

Hopefully Frölunda will go far in the playoffs to give Wikstrand valuable experience.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

Google translate suggests the following:

Wikstrand is a Bust. Bust is a bust, this guy is a bust.


Wait, sry, I had the language settings wrong, It's really this:
Wikstrand sends the puck on goal and Lehkonen control it

You must have had it set to "Fuhr"

 

[Micklebot]

You must have had it set to "Fuhr"

lol, nice, but Fuhr wasn't always negitive about prospects. As I recall, he really liked Stone.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

lol, nice, but Fuhr wasn't always negitive about prospects. As I recall, he really liked Stone.

in the muclker prospect thread he was very positive. He really liked the russians it would seem.