I don't get what Willander has to do with this conversation. ASP is more in the Makar/Hughes/Fox category. Yzerman likely took him for that kind of upside. Will he be that? We don't know and probably not, but given that we already have high end d-men with top pairing potential in Seider/Edvinsson, ASP is worth the risk even if he's a bust. Willander is projected to be a top-4 guy and plays a different game.
ASP by far, was Sweden’s best dman. Just look how he moved past Havelid as the tournament went on, when it came to the staff’s trust situationally.
Willander played well, but he wasn’t transporting the puck at all really, and had 4-5 pretty big oops type moments. He’s a kid. They both are. Who knows who will be the better NHL player right now. You’re lying if you think you know.
As of now though, ASP is clearly a much more defined, and complete dman. Especially transitionally, and in the O-zone. There’s a reason, when they shortened the bench, ASP and Havelid were trusted more. Next year that may flip. In two years, Willinder may be well ahead of ASP. Exactly why Vancouver took him over ASP. That’s what they believed.
The Swedes had much more confidence in him as the tournament went on too, and that’s always a great sign. But in two years from now, hell, Anton Johansson might be the best dman out of those 7. He’s obviously the most physical of them all, and plays more of a NA style of game.
You just don’t know yet.
We’ll also never know if Detroit had him rated over ASP. I’ve been led to believe they had ASP rated over him and Reinbacher, but that’s after the fact type comments I’ve heard. Who knows the real truth. I’ve been led to believe the only dman Anaheim and Detroit had over ASP, was Simashev. Who I personally don’t like much at all, but he is very raw. I just think he’s two seconds behind.
The good thing about prospects is, we always get to find out. So this argument will be settled. I think the one thing we found out about ASP is, he’s very strong for his size. He’s built much better than a Cormier, Zellweger or Hutson. Although not as small, he’s still small by NHL standards, but shouldn’t be a concern like it is with those players, who have slender builds. ASP is built much closer to Hughes and Letang, core strength wise. Which is vital to playing in the NHL.