Prospect Info: Leafs 2018 6th Rd Pick (#156 acquired from BUF) Pontus Holmberg - (5'10", 174, RW, VIK Vasteras HK)

[Nithoniniel]

@Nithoniniel - can you give us any info on this guy?

Not much. I haven't seen him play at all, and before this draft all I knew about him was that he's an exceptionally smart player.

 

[Mikeyg]

@Nithoniniel - can you give us any info on this guy?

not a bad signal to call, but ill show ya a great one for swede players, this guy is a fanatic: @KGM

 

[LeafChief]

not a bad signal to call, but ill show ya a better one for swede players, @KGM

Love it.

Let's get some notes from as many of the Swedish posters as we can. Bergman has a good track record of hitting on these players. I'd like to know what type of player this guy is (is he more Engvall, Johnsson or Grundstrom)?

 

[Mikeyg]

Love it.

Let's get some notes from as many of the Swedish posters as we can. Bergman has a good track record of hitting on these players. I'd like to know what type of player this guy is (is he more Engvall, Johnsson or Grundstrom)?

dude I don't even think that guy is a leaf fan, but I remember when we drafted engvall in the 7th round he wrote this huge analysis and started by saying "I wondered if anyone would be smart enough to pick him" but this guy could literally tell you everything about the swedes you've never heard of. He did it for AJ, Engvall and that other late rd d man we picked a few yrs back i forget his name. Only problem is it looks like the guy hasn't posted in a few months?

 

[LeafChief]

dude I don't even think that guy is a leaf fan, but I remember when we drafted engvall in the 7th round he wrote this huge analysis and started by saying "I wondered if anyone would be smart enough to pick him" but this guy could literally tell you everything about the swedes you've never heard of. He did it for AJ, Engvall and that other late rd d man we picked a few yrs back i forget his name. Only problem is it looks like the guy hasn't posted in a few months?

Jesper Lindgren?

 

[Havoc]

Can't go wrong with players whose names end with Berg.

 

[4thline]

Can't go wrong with players whose names end with Berg.

If only that was the fan motto when Aki played

 

[Havoc]

If only that was the fan motto when Aki played

lmao.

To be fair we never made the playoffs for a decade when he left.

 

[613Leafer]

Trust in Bergman.

Our 6th/7th rounders from Sweden since 2005 include four NHLers (I'm making what I think is a safe assumption on Johnsson).

Engvall (22 year old top 6 AHL player with size, still might be an NHLer)
Johnsson (15 NHL games and counting)
Loov
Gunnarsson (599 NHL games and counting)
Stalberg (548 NHL games)
Dahlberg
Stralman (806 NHL games and counting)

 

[4thline]

Gotta wonder how strongly he fits in Vaxjo's plans. Even with Petterson leaving they've got Bokk,Rondbjerg and Carnback as similar aged players seemingly ahead on the depth chart.

Worst comes to worst a loan back to Vasteras to get big minutes in Alvenskan (he played a decent role in them earning promotion) could be an ok situation

 

[Scott Malkinson]

Pontus Holmberg played on Vaxjo's 1st line for quite a bit of the preseason. He will start the season on their 3rd line, with Vegas 3rd round pick Jonas Rondbjerg and St. Louis 1st round pick Dominik Bokk.

I watched a couple of Vaxjo's games, leading up to the regular season and Holmberg has some really projectable skills, such as skating and hands. He's a long shot to make the Swedish WJC in December but if he can stick in the SHL, he'll make it difficult for the Tre Kronor staff to leave him off the team.

 

[Appleyard]

Not usually in the business of dropping into other teams forums...

but I kind of had to to say that Holmberg has massively impressed me this year. So smart and has been simply fantastic defensively as a 19 year old C in the SHL.

 

[stickty111]

 

[DanM]

Not usually in the business of dropping into other teams forums...

but I kind of had to to say that Holmberg has massively impressed me this year. So smart and has been simply fantastic defensively as a 19 year old C in the SHL.

I have been reading a lot about him, he looks to be pretty solid. I have not watched him much, have you been able to see his games?

 

[DanM]

Will be watching this player closely.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Holmberg seems like he's a bit of a Marcus Kruger just from the outside looking in, I had no idea about him when we drafted him but decent find so far in the 6th round.

 

[taurine330]

It seems that we should stick to swedes when it comes to 6th and 7th rounds.

 

[IBeL34f]

It seems that we should stick to swedes when it comes to 6th and 7th rounds.

If Liljegren, Sandin and Grundstrom all pan out, I'm fine with exclusively drafting out of Sweden, regardless of round.

 

[DanM]

If Liljegren, Sandin and Grundstrom all pan out, I'm fine with exclusively drafting out of Sweden, regardless of round.

Right!?

We have been finding a few good assets in Sweden lol

 

[7even]

Right!?

We have been finding a few good assets in Sweden lol

Even Rosen and Borgman are nice to have in the organization.


Been to Sweden a couple of times. Lovely people, good hockey players. Like the Canadians of Europe. Them or the Dutch, anyway.

 

[taurine330]

Even Rosen and Borgman are nice to have in the organization.


Been to Sweden a couple of times. Lovely people, good hockey players. Like the Canadians of Europe. Them or the Dutch, anyway.

I love me some Stockholm.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Thommie Bergman is a legend... I hope he never retires. Wish we had a bit more luck i Russia.

 

[DanM]

Even Rosen and Borgman are nice to have in the organization.


Been to Sweden a couple of times. Lovely people, good hockey players. Like the Canadians of Europe. Them or the Dutch, anyway.

Fully agree lol

 

[Apotheosis]

Looks like we may have found our own Jesper Bratt (a player I am a huge fan of).