Sweden showcases great young defencemen
Blue-liners have long been an export
The Swedes — who have an assembly line of defencemen, rolling out first-round National Hockey League draft picks year after year — have two more on their Hlinka Gretzky Cup team, Philip Broberg and Tobias Bjornfot.
They aren’t in the same stratosphere as star NHL blue-liners such as Erik Karlsson or Victor Hedman, mind you, but look for the 17-year-olds in the top 20 at next June’s draft in Vancouver because, well, you can’t go wrong taking a Swedish blue-liner.
“From talking to their coach (Tomas Monten), both could get invited to the Swedish under-20 camp for the world junior championship, too,” said TSN’s draft expert Craig Button.
Broberg is built along the lines of Oilers first-rounder Evan Bouchard, having more offensive chops, while Bjornfot is a quieter, Jonas Brodin-type.
What is it about the factory of young Swedish defencemen? Five went in the first round this June. Rasmus Dahlin went first overall to the Buffalo Sabres, then the Chicago Blackhawks took Adam Boqvist at No. 8, the Minnesota Wild took Filip Johansson 24th, the New York Rangers got Nils Lundkvist at No. 28, and the Toronto Maple Leafs landed Rasmus Sandin at No. 29.
“They have a lot of players to look at (after whom to model themselves) … Karlsson, Hedman. They are looking at that (NHL) channel every day. Not just them, other superstars (defencemen). I hope we can get some forwards, too,” said Swedish coach Magnus Havelid, whose best two forwards at the Hlinka, Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz, are only 16 and eligible for the 2020 NHL draft.
There are intriguing forwards such as 6-foot-6 winger Elmer Soderblom, who goes against the grain these days with scouts looking more at five-foot-six danglers rather than gangly kids.
Broberg, who plays the right point but shoots left, had goals against Slovakia and Switzerland in his team’s first two games as the six-foot-three inch, 198-pound defender got ready for the sterner test against Canada. Steve Staios, general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs, picked Broberg, who turned 17 just five weeks ago, in the Canadian Hockey League import draft, hoping he would come over to his 2018 Memorial Cup team, but he’ll probably stay at home and play with AIK in Stockholm.
“He’s got all the skill, the way he skates, the way he moves the puck,” said Havelid. “Compared to last year, he’s really improved.”
Bjornfot, who plays for Djurgardens in Stockholm, isn’t as dynamic. “He’s more of a steady defenceman,” said Havelid. “He’s the captain of our team here.
Soderblom won’t be a firstrounder but it’s tough to look past his size.
“I think I’m finished growing … I’ve always been the biggest and tallest guy in the (school) class and same with the teams. I’m used to it.”
They have a lot of players to look at (after whom to model themselves) ... Karlsson, Hedman. They are looking at that (NHL) channel every day.