Prospect Info: 60th Overall, Albert Johansson, LD

[MrKriben]

Albert is still on Färjestads first defensive pair together with Jonaton Blum.
He plays in all situations but with shelterd minutes and I like what I've seen so far.
Sure there are some mistakes now and then in the positional play and he needs to be stonger of course but his hockeysense and skating are fantastic.

He often joins in the offensive play, like in the last game he deked though the whole defence and then almost scored a backhand. #33 is Albert

 

[MBH]

Albert is still on Färjestads first defensive pair together with Jonaton Blum.
He plays in all situations but with shelterd minutes and I like what I've seen so far.
Sure there are some mistakes now and then in the positional play and he needs to be stonger of course but his hockeysense and skating are fantastic.

He often joins in the offensive play, like in the last game he deked though the whole defence and then almost scored a backhand. #33 is Albert

No lie. He was our most exciting defenseman in the 3 on 3 games at prospect game.
He's got some Karlsson-esque traits.

 

[Winger98]

Johansson was my favorite pick of our draft.
And Hakan's post-draft comments solidified that.
Has speed. Hockey IQ. Loves to be aggressive.
If the size and shot comes, look out.

He's list at 6', isn't he? I think 185 would be a fair playing weight, and shouldn't be hard for that height.

 

[Hen Kolland]

He's list at 6', isn't he? I think 185 would be a fair playing weight, and shouldn't be hard for that height.

Basically Filip Hronek. I think you look to see how he carries 185 and what his game is and tailor his weight to fit. If he's going to be a stallion of sorts who likes jumping up into the rush and relying on agility and skating, and he sits a strong 180, maybe pushing the scale too much isn't the best idea. That being said, if he ends up being bullied in his own zone because he is a weak 180, maybe he does need to find that 190-200 spot.

 

[MBH]

He's list at 6', isn't he? I think 185 would be a fair playing weight, and shouldn't be hard for that height.

Yeah, but his family is all 6'2, 6'3

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

He's list at 6', isn't he? I think 185 would be a fair playing weight, and shouldn't be hard for that height.

185 lbs. should be the minimum for Dmen, unless they're 5'9' or less. Even Rafalski was listed @ 5'10', 200 lbs on hockeydb.com, while NHL.com lists him at 5'10", 194. They'll lose several pounds of waterweight by the end of the game, even after hydrating throughout. 190+ is ideal, otherwise they're too light & easier to move.

 

[Winger98]

Yeah, but his family is all 6'2, 6'3

Then I'd worry even less about his size. The kid's 18, it wouldn't be surprising at all if he grew another inch or two. And his two older brothers don't seem to have been skinny players, either. I'll stand by the idea that even if he doesn't grow, if he gets to around 185, he can be fine on the blueline at that size, too.

185 lbs. should be the minimum for Dmen, unless they're 5'9' or less. Even Rafalski was listed @ 5'10', 200 lbs on hockeydb.com, while NHL.com lists him at 5'10", 194. They'll lose several pounds of waterweight by the end of the game, even after hydrating throughout. 190+ is ideal, otherwise they're too light & easier to move.

There are a lot of good D in the game today under 190 pounds. Do I think he could take more wear and tear at a little heavier weight? Yeah, but only if it doesn't slow him down and affect his play in a negative way. My main point, though, is that the guy isn't exceptionally short right now. He's not really tall, but he's got a big enough frame to hold 185+ pounds. Right now he's a skinny teenager, but I don't see any reason he couldn't bulk up a bit as he gets older.

 

[MBH]

Then I'd worry even less about his size. The kid's 18, it wouldn't be surprising at all if he grew another inch or two. And his two older brothers don't seem to have been skinny players, either. I'll stand by the idea that even if he doesn't grow, if he gets to around 185, he can be fine on the blueline at that size, too.r.

Well, I'm not saying I'm worried. He's 6'0 now. If he was 6'2 or 6'3 and skated the way he does, we don't get him in round 3.
I'm saying there is some potential for extra upside here.
But while I agree he can be fine at 6'0, 185, i think that smallish defensemen still have issues in today's game.
And everything that's good at 6'0, 185 would be better at 6'3 195.

 

[Killerjas]

Got his first SHL goal!

 

[Henkka]

Interesting comparison to Broberg.

Both play in SEL top level.

Philip Broberg plays for Skellefteå, 2nd in league, #9 overall from 2019 draft.
Albert Johansson plays for Färjestad, 3rd in league, #60 overall from 2019 draft.

Johansson, 38 games, 2+8 = 8 points, +2, 4 PIM, 46 shots, 12:39 TOI, 27 hits, 15 blocks.
Broberg, 41 games, 1+7=8 points, +0, 6 PIM, 49 shots, 13:52 TOI, 18 hits, 16 blocks.

 

[Christien]

I’m still really liking this pick a lot. He’s just getting his feet wet in the SHL, but next year I’m looking forward to him taking a big step after having a season of pro hockey under his belt. He plays such a calculated, smooth game... just needs to add some muscle and bulk up.

 

[Larkin2AA]

I’m still really liking this pick a lot. He’s just getting his feet wet in the SHL, but next year I’m looking forward to him taking a big step after having a season of pro hockey under his belt. He plays such a calculated, smooth game... just needs to add some muscle and bulk up.

Do you think he makes his way to Grand Rapids at the beginning of the 2021 season?

 

[Henkka]

Do you think he makes his way to Grand Rapids at the beginning of the 2021 season?

Would be nice to see him getting a big role first at SEL. He is now a 3rd pair defenceman there.

And hasn't even signed ELC yet.

 

[TheOctopusKid]

Well, I'm not saying I'm worried. He's 6'0 now. If he was 6'2 or 6'3 and skated the way he does, we don't get him in round 3.
I'm saying there is some potential for extra upside here.
But while I agree he can be fine at 6'0, 185, i think that smallish defensemen still have issues in today's game.
And everything that's good at 6'0, 185 would be better at 6'3 195.

I think that's true in basically all sports - size matters. The one thing I would caveat this with, when it comes to defenseman - there are three primary ways that they get the job done defensively (and all D have some degree of all of them), and all of them can result in elite play: Power and Physicality (a la Pronger), Speed (Niedermayer), and Positioning (Lidstrom).

I don't know much about this kid, but if much of his defensive game is reliant on him taking the body and trying to drive offensive threats out wide to the boards - then 6'0" concerns me a lot. If his game is predicated on sound positioning and a preternatural sense of defense and being in the right spot at the right time to get his stick on a puck; or to disrupt passing decision - 6'0" doesn't bother me in the least.

 

[Christien]

Do you think he makes his way to Grand Rapids at the beginning of the 2021 season?

Next season? I don’t think so. I think what Henkka said is a good idea. Just let him get stronger and more established in the SHL, then bring him over.

 

[Larkin2AA]

Next season? I don’t think so. I think what Henkka said is a good idea. Just let him get stronger and more established in the SHL, then bring him over.

Sorry, I was talking about the 21-22 season (i.e. beginning of 2021).

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I think that's true in basically all sports - size matters. The one thing I would caveat this with, when it comes to defenseman - there are three primary ways that they get the job done defensively (and all D have some degree of all of them), and all of them can result in elite play: Power and Physicality (a la Pronger), Speed (Niedermayer), and Positioning (Lidstrom).

I don't know much about this kid, but if much of his defensive game is reliant on him taking the body and trying to drive offensive threats out wide to the boards - then 6'0" concerns me a lot. If his game is predicated on sound positioning and a preternatural sense of defense and being in the right spot at the right time to get his stick on a puck; or to disrupt passing decision - 6'0" doesn't bother me in the least.

All very good points about what makes an elite defensemen. Johansson's top skills are his positioning and his ability to recover quickly due to his speed. He's not as fast, big and physical as Broberg but he's a very high IQ player, has good stickwork and and underrated offensive game. I think he's got the potential to be a very similar defenseman to Niklas Kronwall - very strong passing game, excellent lateral mobility, very composed with the puck in his own end, and very smart. If he can develop the same timing for open ice hits then it's almost the exact same skillset as Kronwall.

 

[Christien]

Sorry, I was talking about the 21-22 season (i.e. beginning of 2021).

All good, but yeah he could possibly be on the team depending on what kind of year he has next season

 

[Killerjas]

Needs atleast one more SHL season, preferably as a top 2 guy

 

[Gniwder]

Needs atleast one more SHL season, preferably as a top 2 guy

No way that's going to happen, they've got far more established Dmen and it's a professional league, not developmental.
Here's their roster & TOI stats:
Färjestad BK spelarstatistik

 

[HisNoodliness]

No way that's going to happen, they've got far more established Dmen and it's a professional league, not developmental.
Here's their roster & TOI stats:
Färjestad BK spelarstatistik

I agree that it's unlikely, but if Johansson continues to develop it's not at all unfeasible that he'd genuinely be one of their two best D next year. And as you say, it's a professional league and thus he'd play big minutes as they need to play their best D

 

[Athana see you later]

All good, but yeah he could possibly be on the team depending on what kind of year he has next season

Isn’t that what Lindstrom did? Coming over after his D+2.

 

[Gniwder]

Isn’t that what Lindstrom did? Coming over after his D+2.

Yeah, but he came over because his team benched him in the playoffs. More playing time in GR.

Johansson might get sheltered minutes, but he isn't getting benched.

 

[Christien]

Signed his ELC today

 

[Killerjas]

Maybe he goes to the AHL