RW Niklas Nordgren, HIFK - 74th overall 2018

[Hawkster]

Nordgren is in HIFK's U20 lineup, today.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

First men's SM liiga game for season 2019-2020 to Nordgren tonight vs Oulun Kärpät.
Nordgren plays HIFK's 3rd line with Micke Åsten and Michael Keränen.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Passable men's SM liiga game for Nordgren tonight.
Nordgren had one very good scoring chance in 1st period
but this time he couldn't put puck in half empty net.

Overall game was OK no huge mistakes, no bad passes, no penalties.
Yes Nordgren didn't shine today but didn't disappoint either.
Nordgren got also few seconds icetime in powerplay.

It really showed during the game Nordgren has missed nearly 12 months for different injuries.
But passable start anyways.

That does Nordgren play U20 WJC's is still wide open.
Because Nordgren has missed all U20 events this season with Team Finland.
So lets wait and see will Nordgren make Finland's U20 WJC training camp.

Nordgren's total icetime today 12:01.
Final score 2-0 home win to HIFK.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

.

Update of Nordgren's hip surgery.
Niklas Nordgren's hip surgery last spring was performed due to direct order of Chicago Blackhawks.
Source unknown and trustful person who's close to Nordgren but not family or any relative of him.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

 

[LDF]

excellent post. tuvm.

 

[EnglishJet]

Where do we see this guy's potential moving forward?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Where do we see this guy's potential moving forward?

Depends entirely on how he recovers from injuries, and if he stays healthy moving forward.

 

[Kurtosis]

Depends entirely on how he recovers from injuries, and if he stays healthy moving forward.

And what if he hits those benchmarks?

 

[Mrfenn92]

And what if he hits those benchmarks?

Hawks roll the dice on his hopefully healthy season and sign him to a elc

 

[Kevin Musto]

And what if he hits those benchmarks?

Top 9 forward.

I had him ranked as a late 1st rounder at the time.

 

[blindpass]

Haven't seen any news on Nordgren recently - played only one game this year. Anyone know what's happening with him?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Any time I see the Nordgren thread bumped, I just assume it's a new injury.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Haven't seen any news on Nordgren recently - played only one game this year. Anyone know what's happening with him?

That's tough question to answer for sure.
But i have to speculate and guess something i would say Nordgren is really likely close to end up bust.

HIFK A juniors ( U20 team ) are forced to suspend their season because covid-19.
Finland's covid-19 situation is gotten worse and it's worsening all the time.

HIFK's SM liiga team is forced to play empty stands because fans are not allowed right now.
Yesterday ( Monday 11th January 2021 ) SM liiga announced re-scheduling 21 regular season games.

All this crap is affecting Nordgren's development because he can't play any games right now.
Nordgren is healthy but all what he can do is just practice and sit home
and wait when HIFK's U20 team is allowed to get play again.

But unfortunately there is serious risk of that
SM liiga will be forced to suspend their season any moment.
Finland's government is already planning new restrictions etc limits due to covid 19.

If Blackhawks wants Nordgren gets games this season then they have to bring him to AHL asap.
Because HIFK can't guarantee that will Nordgren get any games anymore in SM liiga or A juniors or not.

And what comes to HIFK even their future in SM liiga is jeopardy due to covid-19.
HIFK and all SM liiga teams are fighting their liiga future because all SM liiga teams are
losing huge amount of money of their annual revenue this season.

No one knows for sure how big those financial losses to all SM liiga teams will be
but it is certain that we are talking about millions of euros