Gabriel Carlsson
HOMETOWN: OREBRO
TEAM:COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
CURRENTLY PLAYING IN:EUROPE
BIRTHDAY: 1997-01-02
POSITION: D
ELIGIBLE FOR DRAFT: 2015
DRAFTED: 2015
SHOOTS: LEFT
HEIGHT: 6-4
ACQUIRED: 1ST ROUND (29TH OVERALL), 2015
WEIGHT: 183 LBS.
NHL Player System Rating Rules
Traditional Realistic Potential Rating (1-10)
(a player’s realistic potential ability):
PROSPECT TALENT SCORE - 7.0
7.0 = Second-Line Forward/ No. 3-4 Defenseman / Journeyman No. 1 Goaltender – players not quite good enough to play on the top line or pairing on a regular basis, but still possessing enough talent to contribute offensively, defend with some authority, or competently play the goaltender’s position for long stretches.
Defense: Kevin Shattenkirk, Alec Martinez, Jeff Petry
Forward: Tomas Tatar, Ryan Kesler, James Neal
Goaltender: Devan Dubnyk, Jaroslav Halak, Mike Smith
2014-15: Carlsson appeared in 17 SHL games for Linkoping, including 10 playoff contests, after spending most of the season with the club’s U20 team in the SuperElit league. He played for the Sweden U18 team in the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and 2015 World Junior Championship tournaments. Carlsson had 2 assists and was +3 with no penalties, averaging 12 minutes of ice time in seven regular season games and had 1 assist with an even plus/minus and 2 penalty minutes, averaging 10 minutes of ice time, in 10 playoff games. In 42 games with the Linkoping U20 team, including three playoff games, he had 9 assists and was +25 with 16 penalty minutes. Carlsson was +5 with 1 assist in five games at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. He had an even plus/minus with no points and 2 penalty minutes in five games at the World Juniors. Sweden finished eighth, falling to Canada, 5-3, in the quarterfinals. Carlsson was ranked second amongst international skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by Columbus in the first round (29th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft.
2015-16: Carlsson attended prospect camp with the Blue Jackets and Sweden’s U20 evaluation camp in Lake Placid before returning to Sweden for his first SHL season. Skating in 45 of 52 regular season games for third-place Linkopings, he scored 1 goal with 8 assists and was +4 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging 12 minutes of ice time per game. Linkopings was upset by defending champion Vaxjo in the playoff quarterfinals. Carlsson had an even plus/minus with no points nor penalties, averaging 11 minutes of ice time, in six playoff games. Playing for Sweden in the 2016 World Juniors, he had 3 assists and was +1 with 8 penalty minutes in seven games. Sweden finished fourth, falling 8-3 to the USA in the bronze medal game.
Talent Analysis
Carlsson is among the top young defensemen coming out of Sweden but unlike many of those players is more inclined towards the defensive elements of the game. He uses his size, reach, and improving hockey sense to play a very defensive style. He will rarely be seen jumping into the rush, but does make a solid first pass and is able to hold the line and put the puck on net quickly.
Future
Carlsson skated in Sweden in 2015-16, playing in the SHL as an 18-year-old. Yet to sign an entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets, his size, skill set and composure suggest he can be a sound second pairing defender in the NHL one day.
Read more at
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/gabriel-carlsson/#WZTglpDKEbChRlb2.99