GDT: 2018 WJC • Game 02 • Group B: BLR (1) - SWE (6) F

[Scott Malkinson]

Yes he is. Small sample size so far though, and it looks to me like he got over his injury struggles just in time for this here WJC.

He has been bad in the AHL for a year and a half.

When you compare it to comparable prospects, Alex Nylander has been a big disappointment since the draft.

 

[Snippit]

He has been bad in the AHL for a year and a half.

When you compare it to comparable prospects, Alex Nylander has been a big disappointment since the draft.

I don't watch Rochester but for the life of me I don't get how a guy with his tools hasn't been able to put it together.

He has good hands, a good shot, good vision and playmaking ability, pretty good speed, decent hockey IQ....

does not compute.

 

[Scott Malkinson]

I don't watch Rochester but for the life of me I don't get how a guy with his tools hasn't been able to put it together.

He has good hands, a good shot, good vision and playmaking ability, pretty good speed, decent hockey IQ....

does not compute.

Yeah, I don't get it either.

 

[DieTomi]

Watched the game earlier today and clearly, some people in this thread must have watched different games.

Thought Andersson, Nylander, Karlstrom looked great in particular (Alex looked awful on that 1 play). Nylander made a suicide pass to Liljegren that was 90% on him, but Liljegren deserves some very minuscule degree of blame on that chance as well, looks like he stumbles on a hard pivot and tries lunging at the puck when falling. Clearly, I was watching a different game if people think that was on Timmy. That said, Timmy did get overshadowed a bit playing a simple, solid, unassuming fundamentals game against a weak team when others were producing on the stat sheet. But against a weak team, I take some solace that Liljegren can simplify his game which can be a real problem for defenders at the next level.



Here's the play on social media.

As for the D, I don't think anyone stood out, save perhaps Brannstrom because he scored. Brannstrom overskates far too much in his own end still. Liljegren just looked solid and somewhat under the radar, he has routinely started out slow every event so far post-draft (WJSS, training-camp, etc.). I thought he could have generated more but he didn't look out of place. Dahlin was also solid, hard to really judge his play off a 1 game sample size, don't think he stood out in particular but people already have a preconceived notion in their minds so they'll overstate his performance today (he's clearly that caliber of talent but if we're judging strictly on today's performance, there were no particular standouts at D). Though I do think Dahlin deserves a lot of credit for showing he can play an under-the-radar effective, simple game.

I would say in general, you can't take too much stock in today's performance against a weak team. I don't think anyone particularly looked good or bad enough to make sweeping conclusions. For example, I've seen enough of Brannstrom since before the draft to be thoroughly unimpressed, relative to say, Button's perception of him. Again, this was one of those dumpster fire games you can place almost no stock in- particularly because none of the top prospects looked remotely bad.

How can you think Liljegren played a good game but Brannstrom was having troubles in his own end? I thought it was the exact opposite. Clearly you've got a bias you're trying to push and you think putting down Brannstrom is going to make Liljegren better? Not sure. I'm a Leafs fan and I can accept Brannstrom played much much better than Timoth yesterday. Lil made some nice plays but was getting caught a lot with his bad reads on multiple occasions and just didn't stand out at all. Looked pretty mediocre on the PP too but don't know if that was due to the personnel on the 2nd unit or what. Him beaver tailing his stick just to put a muffin on goal isn't a very good look for him either, wish he'd relax a bit with that. Does it for the Marlies too and it infuriates me.

 

[firstemperor]

How can you think Liljegren played a better game than Brannstrom? Clearly you've got a bias you're trying to push and you think putting down Brannstrom is going to make Liljegren better? Not sure. I'm a Leafs fan and I can accept Brannstrom played much much better than Timoth yesterday..

The irony of this statement. Your constantly pushing the anti-Liljegren agenda around the prospects board and you accuse others of being biased?

 

[DieTomi]

The irony of this statement. Your constantly pushing the anti-Liljegren agenda around the prospects board and you accuse others of being biased?

You're right. I think Liljegren sucks. Glad most people agree with me

 

[TheGoldenJet]

He has been bad in the AHL for a year and a half.

When you compare it to comparable prospects, Alex Nylander has been a big disappointment since the draft.

Didn't watch him last year so can't comment. Alex looked good to me the week before the WJC though, and I suppose that's all that matters to Swedish fans right now.