Isac Lundestrom should be one of the better centers to come out of the 2018 NHL Draft.
It’s hard to evaluate SHL players because they rarely play against their peers. They usually play against older players. This is definitely the case with forward Isac Lundestrom. He’s entering the 2018 NHL Draft after a strong SHL season.
While Lundestrom didn’t quite put up the numbers of Rasmus Dahlin or Vancouver Canucks prospect Elias Pettersson, he was able to hold down a consistent role on a pretty good team. This is promising.
Prospect Profile
Height: 6’0″ (184 cm)
Weight: 185 pounds (84 kilograms)
Team: Lulea HF (SuperElit); Lulea HF J20 (SuperElit); Sweden U20 (International)
Country: Sweden
Position: Center/Left Wing
Handedness: Left-handed
Date of birth: Nov. 6, 1999
SuperElit regular season stats: 42 games, six goals, nine assists, 15 points, 14 penalty minutes
SuperElit postseason stats: Three games, zero goals, zero assists; six games, zero goals, five assists, five points (J20)
U20 stats: 14 games, three goals, three assists, six points
Average Prospect Ranking*: 18
All profile info is courtesy of Elite Prospects.
* Average prospect ranking is the collective average of a prospect’s four major rankings (McKeen’s, Hockey Prospect, Future Considerations, ISS Hockey)
Strengths
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Lundestrom has played the past two seasons against men. This should help him make the transition to the NHL. His 15 points rank tied for 35th all-time among 18-year-olds in the SHL. Lundestrom plays a strong two-way game. His skating is very solid, albeit not elite.
He also has a very high floor, meaning it’s likely he’ll be a contributor at the NHL level. Lundestrom has everything you like to see in a top-nine forward. He’s very responsible defensively and he should be able to produce. Lundestrom’s shot is very good, but he’s not very confident in it.
Weaknesses
He needs to bulk up a little bit, but this is the case with a lot of European prospects. Lundestrom’s face-off moves aren’t overly quick, so he’ll have to learn how to use his frame to win them in the NHL. He has a lot of potential on offense but simply has yet to really show it.
Lundestrom has a high floor, but I don’t think he has a very high ceiling. At best, he’ll be a top-six forward. Maybe a second-line center. But Lundestrom isn’t going to be a franchise center. He might, however, be a nice complementary wing if his offense develops.
What They’re Saying About Him
"“Responsible two-way center who makes plays at high speed and beats defenders wide with regularity” – Steve Kournianos (Sporting News) “He’s a strong skater and I’ve seen him put defenders on their heels with his speed. His ability to be a playmaker as well as a primary defensive center for whatever team he’s on speaks volumes to his abilities.” – Corey Pronman (The Athletic)"
Highlights
Overall Outlook
There’s a lot to like about Lundestrom defensively. He’s leagues above his peers in his own zone. While Lundestrom has shown flashes of brilliance, I don’t see them consistently enough. If he gains confidence in his shot, he could be an above-average second line center.
Next: Post-Lottery 2018 NHL Mock Draft
Player Comparision
Stylistically, Lundestrom reminds me a bit of Henrik Zetterberg. Nothing about the Detroit Red Wings captain’s game is elite. However, Zetterberg is extremely well-rounded and treats hockey as a game of chess, outsmarting his opponents. Lundestrom doesn’t have his ceiling, but they are similar as far as their playing styles.
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