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Prospect Info: Liam Ohgren LW, 19th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft

57special said:
I'm hoping he can have MarJo's skating, and with better leg extension and maturity there's a chance. Pretty high bar, though. I think Ohgren is more physical, but we'll have to see if he turns into a paper tiger when playing at higher levels. I have zero memory of MarJo when he was young, so i don't know what he was like.

Shot is better, I think. Him being named C on a talented team is a good sign , in general. Means he is well regarded both on and off the ice by both players and coaches. I will be curious to see how he finishes up playing in the SHL. Worst case would be another injury, best, going on a P/PG run.


I think he'll be a better skater.
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A better skating nino would be fantastic!
 
He had at least 3 shots in OT to win the game. Missed his shootout shot too.
Had an ok game, not too shabby but nothing special.
 
He should have a few more assists, but, yes, he does not have the offense a few of the other Swedes do, and will be 20 in a month. In regards to the Nino comparison, Nino's shot at that age was already elite and he was scoring at the WJC, juniors, etc. I don't see the heavy shot or the heaviness (I remember pretty vividly kids bouncing off Nino at the WJC).

He makes really good small area passes but he also tries to stickhandle through guys sometimes and doesn't have the separation speed or the hands from what I've seen at the WJC.

I'm not down on Ohgren as he may be one of those prospects that plays better in a more structured format (AHL, NHL, etc.). But I don't see the hands or shot or ability to produce around the net that would make me think he will be an offensive player.
 
I’m not worried, I think his offense can be developed over time. He’s got size and defensive awareness, similar to JEE.
 
Minnesota said:
I’m not worried, I think his offense can be developed over time. He’s got size and defensive awareness, similar to JEE.
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Ek scored 6 goals and 9 points in 7 games at the WJC so he doesn't have the same offense Ek did at the same age. Ek also had 16 points in 26 games in the SHL. Ohgren so far has 2 points in 5 games so we'll see how the rest of that season goes.
 
I will admit, I do have a tendency to focus so hard on watching the tools (skating edges, shot, balance, assertiveness etc.) that I forget to look on how the player is contributing to the overall play, or is lacking - due to the assumption that these tools may hit differently on a different team than the one he is currently on. But still, it does create some tunnel vision bc at end of the day, its about how a prospect utilizes the tools to generate points or suppress opponents.

So while I love what I see in terms of tools, it does give me slight pause he only has one assist. I do see chances for him so I'm not entirely worried but its keep my expectations to a good 2nd-3rd liner (which isn't a bad thing for a #19th OV pick - or you could argue the #24 pick in spirit bc the Wild made a conscious choice to pick him before Yurov in order to grab both). I hope he gets more offensive time in the SHL/AHL and not get rushed into a checking role in the NHL.
 
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Haven’t really had a reason to watch the WJC. He showing any sign of life?
 
RossiSaveUs said:
Haven’t really had a reason to watch the WJC. He showing any sign of life?
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That's my issue, he's showing signs of life but its not generating points for either himself or his linemates. And sometimes, just working hard and doing the right things isn't enough, as captain, you have to elevate your game above other young talent - expectations are higher. So carefully optimistic.
 
Is the injury still lingering?

There's just no other way to describe it than disappointing when you consider that this is his actual U20 year, so there's no more WJC after this, and guys like Lekkerimaki and Ostlund, who he was drafted with, have 5 and 6 points respectively. Even guys like Stenberg and Edstrom, who were both taken a year after him, and later in the draft, are scoring more than he is.

Who knows what the future holds but the overall body of work on the offensive side of the puck leaves a lot to be desired to this point. Moreso when you consider some of the players taken after him.
 
Of course the injury still affects his game. The other players had a whole summer, and all of this season with so many more practices and games played than him.
He needs at least a month to get in shape before we can properly judge his play.
That being said, I still think he can step up now when the playoffs begin, starting with today's game.
 
Sweetnut said:
Of course the injury still affects his game. The other players had a whole summer, and all of this season with so many more practices and games played than him.
He needs at least a month to get in shape before we can properly judge his play.
That being said, I still think he can step up now when the playoffs begin, starting with today's game.
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Agreed. I don't think the injury is bothering him, but he was always the less offensive player in that Lekkermaki-Ostlund trio and was always one step behind in that area of development. So he needs a bit of massaging - and missing out 1/3 of the season doesn't help.

I hope we take our sweet time to try to develop his offensive game bc I see a player who can easily develop into a 3rd line forward - he has the size, and strength, plays hard, and does all the right things. But we want more than just a checking forward. Hopefully one more SHL, 1 year in the AHL, then 1 year in the NHL 3rd line before. So expecting 23-24yrs old before we start seeing his full form. (he's 20 now).
 
Sweetnut said:
Of course the injury still affects his game. The other players had a whole summer, and all of this season with so many more practices and games played than him.
He needs at least a month to get in shape before we can properly judge his play.
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Well I don't know how obvious it is. He still worked out during the summer. Still played and practiced during the preseason. It was late September when he came to Minnesota to get looked at by the Wild. By mid November Russo had an article out stating he had been working out and practicing with the team, including going through "battle drills", for a few weeks at that point (meaning since late October), and that he would be ready to return soon, and from what I can tell it looks like his first game back was November 21st, well over a month ago at this point. So he's had almost a month and a half of being back to game action, and an additional 3 weeks of practices before that.
 
He has played 5 SHL games this season, with limited TOI. His linemates Bystedt and Pettersson has played 26 and 21 games.
Lekki has played 24. That's half a season in the SHL. (they play 52 games in the regular season)
 
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Sweetnut said:
He has played 5 SHL games this season, with limited TOI. His linemates Bystedt and Pettersson has played 26 and 21 games.
Lekki has played 24. That's half a season in the SHL. (they play 52 games in the regular season)
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You said he needed a month before we can properly judge him. He's had that month and more. He's been playing in games for over a month. He's been practicing with his team for over two months. And it hasn't really been limited TOI, it's been pretty normal for a bottom sixer, and he even played 20 minutes in one of those games. So when do we start judging him properly if it's not actually the month you just told me it was? He should be in shape after two months of full practices/play. He's 19 years old and this isn't the Rossi situation where Rossi literally couldn't exercise for an entire year.

Maybe someone who follows the SHL and Farjestad can stop by and shed some light, it looks like the reason he's only at 5 games is because he's been scratched for a few between when he came back and when he left for the WJC. Was that another injury or is that just because Farjestad dressed other players?
 
He sat at least one game that I know, maybe more. I like to think that was precautionary. I meant a month from now, so around feb or so.
I have seen him play a couple of games, and the first I saw he did not impress me. The second he did a little better, but still not anything great. Hangs on to the puck too long.
I want him to use his linemates more to create offense, not puck hogging. FBK is leading the SHL and has other players that play more of a team first style, and he's just not that player at the moment. I hope I'm wrong as usual, I just don't know.
 
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Sweetnut said:
He sat at least one game that I know, maybe more. I like to think that was precautionary. I meant a month from now, so around feb or so.
I have seen him play a couple of games, and the first I saw he did not impress me. The second he did a little better, but still not anything great. Hangs on to the puck too long.
I want him to use his linemates more to create offense, not puck hogging. FBK is leading the SHL and has other players that play more of a team first style, and he's just not that player at the moment. I hope I'm wrong as usual, I just don't know.
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I also hope I'm wrong, I just don't think I need to wait another month. I don't believe he's still just out of shape from missing that month and a half, I think there's either still some injury that's nagging, or he's just not a very impressive player at this point. And given his history, and the lack of any news about an injury, I'm tending to lean more toward the latter. Again, hope I'm wrong in the long run.
Just my personal opinion too, don't need anyone to agree.
 
I'll be watching today, so inevitably he'll have a great game and get two points
 
AKL said:
I also hope I'm wrong, I just don't think I need to wait another month. I don't believe he's still just out of shape from missing that month and a half, I think there's either still some injury that's nagging, or he's just not a very impressive player at this point. And given his history, and the lack of any news about an injury, I'm tending to lean more toward the latter. Again, hope I'm wrong in the long run.
Just my personal opinion too, don't need anyone to agree.
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That's what I think too, I just keep telling myself he needs more time to sort it out. More practices, more games, more confidence.
 
Minnesota said:
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Nice retweet, thanks! It supports my eye test - and that's why I'm not OVERLY worried. You just wished some of that effort translated into points bc we all want him to be more than a checking forward, even if he becomes a good one at the NHL. But it's a short tourney, I want to see how he does going back to the SHL and playing more than just 5 games.
 
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Believe he was player of the game for Sweden today though I had the volume off at that point. He was very heavily involved and massively snake bitten when it comes to scoring, but a pretty great game nevertheless.
 
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