Prospect Info: 2018 NHL Draft / Pick #28 - Nils Lundkvist (D)

[Edge]

I think that ties him for 2nd in points among D+1 SHL players, including forwards. 6 points in 15 games this year is a good progression from 5 points in 28 games last year too.

Lundkvist is having a very good D+1 season.

He's just kind of lost in the all the excitment that is going toward the seasons that Kravtsov, Miller and Keane are having thus far.

Part of me feels it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Lundkvist is having a very good D+1 season.

He's just kind of lost in the all the excitment that is going toward the seasons that Kravtsov, Miller and Keane are having thus far.

Part of me feels it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

There’s been some duds in there, but I think the past 2 drafts have been better than their receptions would lead you to believe

 

[dragovici]

Watching the game. Really solid performance overall

 

[kovazub94]

Lundkvist is having a very good D+1 season.

He's just kind of lost in the all the excitment that is going toward the seasons that Kravtsov, Miller and Keane are having thus far.

Part of me feels it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

He admitted in his earlier interviews that he struggled a bit at the start of the season by putting too much pressure on himself and trying to do too much in his second season in SHL. Looks like he's settling down.

 

[Edge]

There’s been some duds in there, but I think the past 2 drafts have been better than their receptions would lead you to believe

Well, my stance on the Rangers being one of the better drafting teams in the last 14 years aside, I think the Rangers did well for themselves in 2018.

2017 was very good as well, but I think that gap of not having second and third round picks will knock off some points.

I also think the Rangers have essentially rebuilt a 2016 draft for themselves with Howden, Hajek, Lindgren, Rykov and company.

But speaking specifically to Lundkvist for a minute, I'll go on record as saying that I think he has more offensive upside than people realize. Not necessarily first pairing, all-star level upside, but I think he could be a guy who nets 40 points in the NHL if most things comes together.

I'll also go on record as saying that I think his numbers in the OHL would look close to Boqvist's if he was there this season.

 

[Edge]

He admitted in his earlier interviews that he struggled a bit at the start of the season by putting too much pressure on himself and trying to do too much in his second season in SHL. Looks like he's settling down.

And that somewhat falls in line with what I would put in his scouting report for the last two years.

There are times he'll try to force his play up a level and to be more of an offensive catalyst, rather than just letting his play speak for itself.

I think some of that comes from the fact that a lot of people kind of undersold his ability to move the puck and so when he had a chance to show off his skills, he'd jump at the opportunity --- maybe a bit too much.

But Lundkvist is a very talented kid, perhaps more than most people realize. If we give him time mature physically, learn to pick his spots and not feel like he needs to do something special on every shift, and I think we'll be happy with the end result.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Well, my stance on the Rangers being one of the better drafting teams in the last 14 years aside, I think the Rangers did well for themselves in 2018.

2017 was very good as well, but I think that gap of not having second and third round picks will knock off some points.

I also think the Rangers have essentially rebuilt a 2016 draft for themselves with Howden, Hajek, Lindgren, Rykov and company.

But speaking specifically to Lundkvist for a minute, I'll go on record as saying that I think he has more offensive upside than people realize. Not necessarily first pairing, all-star level upside, but I think he could be a guy who nets 40 points in the NHL if most things comes together.

I'll also go on record as saying that I think his numbers in the OHL would look close to Boqvist's if he was there this season.

I think right after the draft I called Lundkvist “Boqvist -1”. I don’t see why his ceiling can’t be like what Stralman was his first few years in Tampa

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I think that ties him for 2nd in points among D+1 SHL players, including forwards. 6 points in 15 games this year is a good progression from 5 points in 28 games last year too.

Hallander has more points

 

[kovazub94]

I think right after the draft I called Lundkvist “Boqvist -1”. I don’t see why his ceiling can’t be like what Stralman was his first few years in Tampa

I'll take Stralman in his last few years with the Rangers. ; )

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Wrote this in the prospect thread but i guess it should be here.

"
Beyond the box scores he was excellent in transition all game and solid defensively, had one shift where he broke up play twice when Timrå were in good positions, he did it by reading the play and stepping up both times.
Played over 16 minutes today. "

He played a really good game.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I'll take Stralman in his last few years with the Rangers. ; )

I just said Tampa because he was playing as well defensively as he did here, but they gave him a lot more offensive opportunities and he produced a good amount of points, I think he had more points in his first season in Tampa than he did his whole Rangers tenure

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Wrote this in the prospect thread but i guess it should be here.

"
Beyond the box scores he was excellent in transition all game and solid defensively, had one shift where he broke up play twice when Timrå were in good positions, he did it by reading the play and stepping up both times.
Played over 16 minutes today. "

He played a really good game.

Hope he keeps it up, it’d be great if he gets to be on the WJC team this year

 

[kovazub94]

I just said Tampa because he was playing as well defensively as he did here, but they gave him a lot more offensive opportunities and he produced a good amount of points, I think he had more points in his first season in Tampa than he did his whole Rangers tenure

Hey, I'm not arguing. I don't think he became a much better player, rather the circumstances are drastically different when you're paired with a perennial Norris Trophy candidate.

 

[kovazub94]

Wrote this in the prospect thread but i guess it should be here.

"
Beyond the box scores he was excellent in transition all game and solid defensively, had one shift where he broke up play twice when Timrå were in good positions, he did it by reading the play and stepping up both times.
Played over 16 minutes today. "

He played a really good game.

Pretty much the only stat I pay attention to for a D+1 defenseman prospect playing in a one of the top professional leagues outside of NHL.

 

[Ola]

I think he is in a great spot in Luleå. They really love him up there, he is so well liked by everyone. Coaches, media and fans. He always have a smile on his face and just loves playing the game, fearless and just hits the ice and tries to have fun out there while always also playing the ‘right way’. No boneheaded stuff.

I think he is more of a RHS Krug or Toby Enstrom. But one thing, he isn’t showing elite potential if you get what I mean. Nobody is throwing out Karlsson out there as a comparison , and for a good reason. BUT it’s important to remember that this kid is still very young and especially a very late bloomer physically. He was litterary 5’3 what was it like 24 months ago. Who knows where he will be in 24 months if you get what I mean? He is another one — just like KAndre — that I really hope we are patient with even if they do well in near time.

 

[Levitate]

I think he is in a great spot in Luleå. They really love him up there, he is so well liked by everyone. Coaches, media and fans. He always have a smile on his face and just loves playing the game, fearless and just hits the ice and tries to have fun out there while always also playing the ‘right way’. No boneheaded stuff.

I think he is more of a RHS Krug or Toby Enstrom. But one thing, he isn’t showing elite potential if you get what I mean. Nobody is throwing out Karlsson out there as a comparison , and for a good reason. BUT it’s important to remember that this kid is still very young and especially a very late bloomer physically. He was litterary 5’3 what was it like 24 months ago. Who knows where he will be in 24 months if you get what I mean? He is another one — just like KAndre — that I really hope we are patient with even if they do well in near time.

I don't really expect a 28th overall to have elite potential to be honest. I think even guys that people say have "elite potential" in that range often do not really have it, just maybe a bit more than other players in that range while having more downsides.

At the end of the first round you're probably mostly relying on luck if you find an elite player

 

[Edge]

Lundkvist might not be dazzling people with end to end demonstrations, but I think this kid is only going to show more and more as he gets stronger, more experience and more opportunity.

I know at least two people in the industry who’ve seen him a lot and have flat out said that there’s not as much of a gap between Boqvist and Lundkvist overall, and long-term, as some might believe.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Thought he was a steal when we got him.

He was rising lots in the weeks leading up to the draft. I think it was @ManUtdTobbe that first identified him as a prospect to watch that was closer to Boqvist than the pundits would have us all believe. Good call

 

[NYR Viper]

Thought he was a steal when we got him.

He was rising lots in the weeks leading up to the draft. I think it was @ManUtdTobbe that first identified him as a prospect to watch that was closer to Boqvist than the pundits would have us all believe. Good call

Does anyone else read ManUtdTobbe as 'Manutoba' or 'Manitoba'. Every freaking time I have to correct myself...

I just ignore the d

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Does anyone else read ManUtdTobbe as 'Manutoba' or 'Manitoba'. Every freaking time I have to correct myself...

I just ignore the d

Let's put it this way: Until I spoke to him on Twitter, I assumed the kid was from Winnipeg.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Let's put it this way: Until I spoke to him on Twitter, I assumed the kid was from Winnipeg.

"kid"

I'm 30 lol.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

"kid"

I'm 30 lol.

 

[McRanger]

"kid"

I'm 30 lol.

That makes you a kid.

 

[Ghost of jas]

"kid"

I'm 30 lol.

So is my daughter.