LD Malte Gustafsson - HV71, SHL (2026 Draft)
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Castle8130
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- May 9, 2017
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In terms of who goes first, I'd expect Smits to get his name called 1st. Anything can happen, but Smits has proved himself a bit more at the pro level.
There is a good argument that Gustafsson's rise, younger age, and improvement give him more upside. We've really only seen him be a dominant force against his age group at the WJC. I'd argue you should compare Gustafsson to Verhoeff since we got to see them head to head
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- Jul 25, 2007
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I like Gustafsson a lot. He's #7OA on my list. I personally think he's a tier below Smits, who I have at #1 (although I admit, I'm biased toward what I want for the Sharks and it's close with Smits, Reid, and Stenberg).
I think Smits is a top of lineup upside player like a #2/luxury #3. I think Malte is a borderline top of lineup upside player but more likely a very steady, annoying #3/4.
Obviously anything can happen. That's just from watching their respective men's league / Olympic / WJC / U20 performances.
I think Smits is a top of lineup upside player like a #2/luxury #3. I think Malte is a borderline top of lineup upside player but more likely a very steady, annoying #3/4.
Obviously anything can happen. That's just from watching their respective men's league / Olympic / WJC / U20 performances.
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SannywithoutCompy
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- Dec 22, 2020
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Ŝmits but that's no slight to Gustafsson. I love Gustafsson's game but want to see him add some dimensions offensively to feel more comfortable projecting him as a top pairing guy. Still, his development curve has been pretty steep so hopefully that'll come in the next year or two before he breaks into the league.
Gustafsson, I have him 7th and Smits 9th.
I flipped them after the last set of shift by shifts I watched:
I loved Gustafsson's decision making in this game. He controls such a big area of the ice too, great range and he's always getting his stick on the puck. He's in control of the game and then you watch Smits and he's chasing the game a bit.
I've seen a lot of Smits but most of my evaluation of these two just comes from the shift by shifts, so I'll let people who've seen them more tell me if these games fit or don't fit what you're used to seeing from these players.
doublechili
Left lane is for passing, not eating or texting.
- Apr 11, 2006
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I'm no pro scout - just a fan watching videos - but when I watch Gustafsson I see a guy who plays like a very good NHL defenseman already. Not spectacular, but looks composed and does everything right. Even though LHD is practically my Isles least area of need, if he's there at #13 I hope they pick him. I could see him doing very well in the 10 year re-drafts....
Malte's main drawback from keeping from being the top D is his offensive upside. Probably the best defensively of the kids rated to go in the top half of the draft.
Malte might have the best defensive game ive seen from a prospect in the last handful of drafts.
To me this is a sure fire top 4 Dman in the NHL that will eat 25 mins a night, kill penalties and lock down the other teams best line.
Very physical as well. Plays angry in crease and board battles.
To me this is a sure fire top 4 Dman in the NHL that will eat 25 mins a night, kill penalties and lock down the other teams best line.
Very physical as well. Plays angry in crease and board battles.
- Jul 25, 2007
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Like Smits though, just because you haven't seen it yet doesn't mean it's not there. Malte looked a lot more dangerous at U18s and Smits at J20 / U20 level. I may be overly biased toward valuing seeing defensemen play defense in men's leagues versus defensemen score tons of junior points in junior leagues.
if SJ is somehow able to get Reid at #2 and Malte at #20 then I honestly dont see how they dont win multiple cups during Celebrini's career.
Malte wont be available with pick # 20 so SJ would have to package pick #20 with the Avs 2nd round pick which is pick #62.
That might be able to get them to move up enough spots to get Malte.
Celebrini
Smith
Misa
Ekund
Chernyshov
Reid
Malte G
Dickenson
Askarov/Ravensbergen
LMAO goodluck NHL.
Malte wont be available with pick # 20 so SJ would have to package pick #20 with the Avs 2nd round pick which is pick #62.
That might be able to get them to move up enough spots to get Malte.
Celebrini
Smith
Misa
Ekund
Chernyshov
Reid
Malte G
Dickenson
Askarov/Ravensbergen
LMAO goodluck NHL.
- Jul 25, 2007
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Reid or Smits and Malte would be my dream 1st round, but I think it's going to take more than the 2nd rounder to move from 20 to ~10 where Malte is likely to go.
Yep might have to something like 20, 62, Musty for a pick in the 8-15 range.
I'd love for my Canucks to build from the backend as well.
Reid at #3
Trade #24, 33 + for a pick in the 8-12 range and draft Malte
Biuim- Willander
Reid- Malte
for the next decade. Sign me up.
emptyNedder
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- Jan 17, 2018
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I see the appeal of Gustafsson.
However, from 2014-2019, the "best" defensive D were primarily from 2-5 rounds.
2014: Forsling 5th, D Toews 4th.
2015: Carlo 2nd, Gavrikov 6th, Cernak 2nd, Matt Roy 7th, Siegenthaler, 2nd, Mikkola 5th (a exceptional draft for D)
2016: The opposite of 15, not really any D-first D of notice. Maybe Peeke in 2nd.
2017: Samberg 2nd, Mikey Anderson 4th, N Hague 2nd.
2018: Fehervary, Bahl, and Romanov 2nd.
2019: Vlasic 2nd.
This is not to say that taking an excellent defender doesn't make sense, but more that the team surely believes he will become a 2-way D at some point.
However, from 2014-2019, the "best" defensive D were primarily from 2-5 rounds.
2014: Forsling 5th, D Toews 4th.
2015: Carlo 2nd, Gavrikov 6th, Cernak 2nd, Matt Roy 7th, Siegenthaler, 2nd, Mikkola 5th (a exceptional draft for D)
2016: The opposite of 15, not really any D-first D of notice. Maybe Peeke in 2nd.
2017: Samberg 2nd, Mikey Anderson 4th, N Hague 2nd.
2018: Fehervary, Bahl, and Romanov 2nd.
2019: Vlasic 2nd.
This is not to say that taking an excellent defender doesn't make sense, but more that the team surely believes he will become a 2-way D at some point.
He won’t anchor PP1. At best he’d be on PP2. Doesn’t possess a great shot. Can be improved or at least has to find a way to get it on net.
Expect him to be off the board before we hit the teens.
Expect him to be off the board before we hit the teens.
Am I the only one who find this completely irrelevant? Like Cale Makar had the most powerplay time out of all the defensemen in the league and Colorado still had one of the worst powerplays in the league. Cale Makar.
And you're telling me Reid, Verhoeff, Rudolph or whomever is going to be so much of a game changer on the powerplay that they are worth drafting earlier than their 5on5 play warrants? I don't buy that for a second. I've seen way too many great offensive defensemen on awful powerplays.
Star Platinum
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You still want the guys on your power play to be agile skaters and quick decisive passers, even if one guy can't make a power play good by itself. Colorado has no excuse for their power play not being better.
But every team already has that. You can't enter your Stanley Cup window without accidently picking up a few defensemen who can move the puck well.
That's good enough to execute a well schemed up powerplay. While there is no amount of individual skill that can salvage a predictable, dull powerplay. Not to a noteworthy degree.
SannywithoutCompy
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- Dec 22, 2020
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2014 - very similar profile to Sanheim (big DY development, not the flashiest offensive totals but looked like there was potential)
2015 - somewhat similar case in Chabot
2017 - Heiskanen's offensive game was further along but nowhere near developed, and was known more for his defense and skating
2019 - Seider had 6 points in 29 games in the DEL and was drafted much more for his defense
Feels like he reminds me most of Sanderson though, albeit with a less mature offensive game at the same age. I think he can get to that level though.
Star Platinum
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My team doesn't. We have defensemen who can't make accurate passes or manage the puck at the blue line responsibly and nobody who has a particularly threatening shot. Most of my team's 5 on 5 goals come from quick transition and odd man rushes and very little from effective cycling of the puck and making good passes in crowded situations. And frankly, most of my team's forwards take too long to move the puck. There's a mixture of blame to go around from lack of experience to horrible power play design to just not shooting the puck enough, but it's not good.
This is why a guy like Chase Reid has a lot of appeal.
Gustafsson has a lot of appeal too, but there are lots of ways to get good defensive defenseman. Harder to find guys that might be two-way guys.
Yes, they do. And they will have it when it's time to contend as well regardless of who they draft this year. You can't get to the cap floor without accidently picking up a player who can skate into the neutral zone, drop the puck back to a forward, then park at the blue line and distribute the puck between the flanks.
Carolina had the 7th best powerplay this year and are in the Stanley Cup final with Gostisbehere, Nikishin and Miller as their powerplay defensemen and nothing special on the forward side. Vegas defensemen are so bad on the powerplay that they roll with 5 forwards instead. So you don't even need to have a defenseman with that skillset on the team. So it's senseless to give it any weight in a prospect evaluation.
If you imagine it simply involves "park at the blue line and distribute the puck" then yes I could why you think it isn't worth anything in prospect evaluation. The truth is that quick deceptive movement from the blueline can break a PK, it's a huge plus for a powerplay.
