LD Albert Johansson (2019, 60th, DET)

[newfy]

Surprising only to people who didn't watch him in Sweden or Grand Rapids, which to be fair, McLellan probably didn't lol.

Everywhere he goes, people on the team talk about how good and underrated he is because he's not flashy. He takes time watching to appreciate how good his game is and he battles as hard as anyone When he didn't make the WJC team there were interviews from his SHL teammates saying how bad it was.

 

[Dotter]

I don't know if he is a #4 defenseman while playing next to Edvinsson.... or if Holl, Chariot and Petry are just so bad that it makes AJ look better than he is, but I have really liked Johansson's game on the top 4!

Off topic, I'll just say Elmer Soderblom is an NHLer and should stay up in place of Veleno and/or Fischer after Kane returns. Dude has been a MONSTER.

 

[eojsmada]

I remember last year they were wanting to bring Johansson up to give him a look since he was in his final waiver eligibility year, but then he got a fluke injury just as there was an opening for him and they had to go a different direction. And then when the end of the season came around for them give Edvinsson their end of year look, he ended up sticking and they just rode Johansson out the rest of the year.

Good for him, though, to really have the patience and work ethic to stay ready. Pretty clear that Lalonde had no idea how to handle the roster he had with whatever blender of systems he was (or wasn't) using.

 

[Reddwit]

Almost 22 minutes last night in a tight game that was 1-0 for almost the entire second half of the game. Had a shift where he ran Kucherov out of the defensive zone. I don’t know what Lalonde was doing with him, but McLellan has done wonders for him. Great stick, mobile, has little trouble with forwards bigger than him, and he’s scrappy. If he keeps this up for the season, he’s a lock for the top 4, possibly a future mate for Seider on the top pairing. What a revelation at the NHL level.

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

He was always projected as a top 4 defenseman, so it should surprise no one that he looks like a…top 4 defenseman.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

He was always projected as a top 4 defenseman, so it should surprise no one that he looks like a…top 4 defenseman.

i'm surprised because i've been told that yzerman can't draft outside the first for years

 

[Hazy Little Thing]

i'm surprised because i've been told that yzerman can't draft outside the first for years

I thought the notion was that his NA draft picks were poor? I don’t think anyone questions Hakan.

 

[newfy]

He was always projected as a top 4 defenseman, so it should surprise no one that he looks like a…top 4 defenseman.

I think its a little surprising he's looking this good this early. I'm a big fan but I wasn't really expecting it this quick. Especially after Lalonde kept playing him 10 mins a game then health bombing him for 3 games