CP: Nils Lundkvist (NYR) was a big riser in terms of his draft stock, also due to a growth spurt. What were your impressions of his growth throughout all last season?
Monten: He played really good when he played in the pro league for Lulea at home against men. I didn’t think he was that good when he played junior and at the Under-18’s he was a little bit up and down, but when he played at a higher level he was really good. I think that’s why he rose for the draft. That’s his thing, if he can play a solid two-way game without getting too much pressure on him to put up points and play a skilled game, I think he can be really good and be in the run to make the team.
CP: From watching him he doesn’t seem like a very dynamic, flashy kind of player offensively, he seems like more of a smart, quiet two-way defenseman.
Monten: For sure. He can play at both ends of the ice, but I think the biggest part of his game is his smarts. He reads the play well, he has good gaps, he has a good stick, and he can defend even though he’s small and then he can move the puck and get the play going and get up the ice with his speed. We’re not looking for him to run the power play or put up points; we’re looking for him to be a solid two-way D.
CP: He wasn’t that for the U18 team either, he was like a second power play kind of guy.
Monten: Right and that’s the thing, it wasn’t his play with the U18 team, it was how well he played in the pro league, it’s why he was picked so high.
