Prospect Info: Karl Henriksson, C, 2nd round, 58th overall, 2019

[One Winged Angel]

I was at the prospect camp meet and greet at Versa tonight. It was awesome. Met Kakko, Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, Gross, Ulmer, Keane, Rykov and Henriksson. I also met Nick Bobrov and here’s the interesting part.

I asked him to name someone that he thinks will be a steal or a diamond in the rough and he pointed right away to Henriksson without the slightest hesitation.

Said that he’s a super athlete playing for Sweden’s national junior hockey and soccer teams. Said that he absolutely blew the doors off at the combine. But the last thing he said to me is what got me. He said that Raymond and Holze are high maintenance superstars, they couldn’t play together with any center in Sweden other than Henriksson. Said he knew exactly what to do and was able to skate with them and get them the puck. That’s high praise from a great scout.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I was at the prospect camp meet and greet at Versa tonight. It was awesome. Met Kakko, Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, Gross, Ulmer, Keane, Rykov and Henriksson. I also met Nick Bobrov and here’s the interesting part.

I asked him to name someone that he thinks will be a steal or a diamond in the rough and he pointed right away to Henriksson without the slightest hesitation.

Said that he’s a super athlete playing for Sweden’s national junior hockey and soccer teams. Said that he absolutely blew the doors off at the combine. But the last thing he said to me is what got me. He said that Raymond and Holze are high maintenance superstars, they couldn’t play together with any center in Sweden other than Henriksson. Said he knew exactly what to do and was able to skate with them and get them the puck. That’s high praise from a great scout.

Guess we have to end up with Holtz and Raymond...for their sake

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I was at the prospect camp meet and greet at Versa tonight. It was awesome. Met Kakko, Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, Gross, Ulmer, Keane, Rykov and Henriksson. I also met Nick Bobrov and here’s the interesting part.

I asked him to name someone that he thinks will be a steal or a diamond in the rough and he pointed right away to Henriksson without the slightest hesitation.

Said that he’s a super athlete playing for Sweden’s national junior hockey and soccer teams. Said that he absolutely blew the doors off at the combine. But the last thing he said to me is what got me. He said that Raymond and Holze are high maintenance superstars, they couldn’t play together with any center in Sweden other than Henriksson. Said he knew exactly what to do and was able to skate with them and get them the puck. That’s high praise from a great scout.

He's just a shill for Gorton #PosterPB

But for real, thanks for sharing!

 

[Ola]

I was at the prospect camp meet and greet at Versa tonight. It was awesome. Met Kakko, Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, Gross, Ulmer, Keane, Rykov and Henriksson. I also met Nick Bobrov and here’s the interesting part.

I asked him to name someone that he thinks will be a steal or a diamond in the rough and he pointed right away to Henriksson without the slightest hesitation.

Said that he’s a super athlete playing for Sweden’s national junior hockey and soccer teams. Said that he absolutely blew the doors off at the combine. But the last thing he said to me is what got me. He said that Raymond and Holze are high maintenance superstars, they couldn’t play together with any center in Sweden other than Henriksson. Said he knew exactly what to do and was able to skate with them and get them the puck. That’s high praise from a great scout.

I am starting to like this Bobrov guy! Seriously though, I definitely agree with his take on Henriksson.

 

[One Winged Angel]

Guess we have to end up with Holtz and Raymond...for their sake

If they don’t get Panarin, I’d be more than ok with that.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I was at the prospect camp meet and greet at Versa tonight. It was awesome. Met Kakko, Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, Gross, Ulmer, Keane, Rykov and Henriksson. I also met Nick Bobrov and here’s the interesting part.

I asked him to name someone that he thinks will be a steal or a diamond in the rough and he pointed right away to Henriksson without the slightest hesitation.

Said that he’s a super athlete playing for Sweden’s national junior hockey and soccer teams. Said that he absolutely blew the doors off at the combine. But the last thing he said to me is what got me. He said that Raymond and Holze are high maintenance superstars, they couldn’t play together with any center in Sweden other than Henriksson. Said he knew exactly what to do and was able to skate with them and get them the puck. That’s high praise from a great scout.

But did he consult with offdacrossbar first?

 

[One Winged Angel]

He's just a shill for Gorton #PosterPB

But for real, thanks for sharing!

Anytime. Nils’ English is surprisingly good. Nico Gross speaks perfect English, no accent either.

Felt bad for Kakko. He just looked uncomfortable.

Bobrov was really nice though. If I didn’t have a train to make (which got canceled because signal problems caused all of the south shore lines to have service suspended, thanks for nothing, LIRR), I would have stayed later and talked a ton of hockey with him. The people he was talking to before me talked with him for like 10-15 minutes. He was super cool, just wanted to pick his brain more hahah.

 

[One Winged Angel]

But did he consult with offdacrossbar first?

I literally just laughed out loud. That was great.

 

[One Winged Angel]

I am starting to like this Bobrov guy! Seriously though, I definitely agree with his take on Henriksson.

I said Lias Andersson with more offensive upside and better skating. I think I might be right.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I literally just laughed out loud. That was great.

I feel like that's a common joke, so I can't take credit for it.

 

[One Winged Angel]

I feel like that's a common joke, so I can't take credit for it.

Is it more common than people making Bernie references in Kreider threads?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Is it more common than people making Bernie references in Kreider threads?

Sanders or meister?

 

[One Winged Angel]

Sanders or meister?

Hahahah. Obviously sanders...

 

[Levitate]

Anytime. Nils’ English is surprisingly good. Nico Gross speaks perfect English, no accent either.

Felt bad for Kakko. He just looked uncomfortable.

Hah poor guy, just kind of thrown into the fire with all this stuff, I'm sure it's a bit overwhelming when the Rangers PR is trying so hard to market him and do all of this. Thankfully it'll probably die down quite a bit after this initial frenzy and he can focus on hockey and getting comfortable in the city, then learn how to handle some of the media attention.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I was at the prospect camp meet and greet at Versa tonight. It was awesome. Met Kakko, Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, Gross, Ulmer, Keane, Rykov and Henriksson. I also met Nick Bobrov and here’s the interesting part.

I asked him to name someone that he thinks will be a steal or a diamond in the rough and he pointed right away to Henriksson without the slightest hesitation.

Said that he’s a super athlete playing for Sweden’s national junior hockey and soccer teams. Said that he absolutely blew the doors off at the combine. But the last thing he said to me is what got me. He said that Raymond and Holze are high maintenance superstars, they couldn’t play together with any center in Sweden other than Henriksson. Said he knew exactly what to do and was able to skate with them and get them the puck. That’s high praise from a great scout.

Bobrov swaying fans with his logic

 

[Star Ocean]

Henriksson played better than simon Holmström who went 23rd overall in that U18 tournament.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Henriksson played better than simon Holmström who went 23rd overall in that U18 tournament.

Henriksson and Aaltonen are 2 picks I am really happy with. I know Henriksson's stats aren't as tied to Raymond as people think they are

 

[Irishguy42]

OWA to ODC rn

 

[One Winged Angel]

Bobrov swaying fans with his logic

Very nice guy. I wish I could have stayed longer because he was great to talk to. Once we started talking he just went. Firm grip on the handshake too lol, wasn’t expecting it.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Well then get him one of his high maintenance wingers* in 2020!

Interesting, sounds like Holtz and Raymond are solely offensive specialists.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Very nice guy. I wish I could have stayed longer because he was great to talk to. Once we started talking he just went. Firm grip on the handshake too lol, wasn’t expecting it.

I spoke to him twice over the weekend and both times he was great. He takes his time to talk to everyone, and the stuff he told me made me blush, man.

Bobrov walks out and I call him out "Mr Bobrov! Do you have time for a photo?" and he changes direction, walks over to us and I start talking. I said "Mr. Bobrov, I am a Rangers fan living in Europe and just want to say I am a huge fan of what you have done in the last 3 years since joining the Rangers with EU scouting" to which he replies "Steven, we know who you are. It's a pleasure to finally meet you". I couldn't believe my ears. Rangers management knows who I am? That's unreal!

After day 2, we decided to go back to the same spot as the day before because some of the guys missed out on meeting management on Friday. I was running on adrenaline man. I felt like a celebrity. So, after 10-15 minutes again, they all walk out and Bobrov is first. I finally built up the courage to say something. I thanked him for the kind words and how it made my day and he said "Steven, keep doing what you're doing. You are a great representative of our fanbase" and again, I was lost for words. A few minutes later, Inferno (HF member) asks me to take a picture of him with Chris Drury, and as I am about to do so, Drury says "Hey, is that statboy taking our picture?"

That's when I knew. They follow me on Twitter! That's how they know everything. Man, I was on cloud 9. Two members of Rangers management called me by name and I couldn't believe it.

And then of course the email Bobrov sent me Tuesday morning. Man, Drury and Bobrov are definitely on my good guys list

 

[Bluenote13]

@Amazing Kreiderman Steve, are you really that surprised that the team knows who you are!?

Glad all the right people agree on Karl, Ola had him as a first rounder, and I had him as our top choice for #58.

Way better 2nd round vibes one year later !

 

[offdacrossbar]

But did he consult with offdacrossbar first?

i can confirm no contact.

fail

 

[Edge]

The talent and skill is there, which is what people wanted.

Now we just need to stop over-thinking things and see how he progresses. It's as simple as that.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

@Amazing Kreiderman Steve, are you really that surprised that the team knows who you are!?

Glad all the right people agree on Karl, Ola had him as a first rounder, and I had him as our top choice for #58.

Way better 2nd round vibes one year later !

Let's put it this way...

Kakko recognizing me was nice. I saw him last month, I was wearing the same jersey. It was in Brno. I was the only guy supporting Finland in the entire arena. And I got to talk to him there. It made sense.
Lias recognizing me in Calgary was amazing, but not really a surprise because he has retweeted me once and mentioned me on Twitter after the game in Tampa. I wasn't surprised he remembered.
Lundkvist taking the effort to come to the arena despite an ankle injury when I was in Luleå, was amazing. Such a nice kid. And we spoke about his grandpa etc. He clearly remembered me from last November.

But for Nik Bobrov, who I really admire, to walk up to me and know who I am... I did not see that coming at all. He caught me off guard and I was standing there "Ehhh, thank you sir. Uhhh." and I couldn't say anything. I did not see that coming at all. I had never met him. I never met anyone from the Rangers management before aside from Gordie Clark in Hodonin last year. And all of a sudden Bobrov says that... I never expected those guys to know who I am. The prospects I've met before, sure. But the head of EU scouting for the Rangers? And the assistant GM (Drury)... Man, that guy is such a goof. "Is that statboy taking our picture?" and all my friends look at me and say "Oh, you know him, Mr Drury?"

I guess it's a really nice way to end a season full of great memories. From meeting Kravtsov in Helsinki, to being recognized by his sister and dad in Vancouver, to Lundkvist taking the time to travel to the arena in Sweden, to the shout out by Sam Rosen during the Calgary game, meeting Kakko in Brno and now this draft weekend. It was just the weekend where it all came together.

Regarding Henriksson: I think he's an underrated pick at 59. I feel he's great at the things you can't teach and can improve in areas you can teach. That's a great prospect to select late in the 2nd round.