Ivan Hlinka U-18 Tournament: Team Sweden

The Swedes managed a bronze medal after a loss to Team Canada basically knocked them out of gold medal contention. Ironically it was the Swedes who defeated the Canadians last year in round robin play to later capture gold. The Swedes were the biggest team in the tournament and were loaded at all positions. The future looks very bright for Swedish hockey as their 90 and 91 born groups rival only the Canadians in terms of skill.

McKeen's Chief Correspondent David Burstyn was on hand at the Ivan Hlinka tournament and files these notes on various Swedish players.

Robin Lehner (2009), G, Frölunda

Did not have his best tournament as he appeared fatigued and not yet in game shape .. certainly Sweden's best goalie for the '91 age group as his butterfly style and cool, calm approach to the game mirrors that of a young Lundqvist .. loves to tease shooters with the five hole only to close it up .. has good foot speed and moves around the net well but he needs to improve on his balance .. balance issues make him vulnerable in scramble situations .. the defense did a good job in front of him taking care of the rebounds .. not the greatest skater he tends to surrender goals in his feet .. agile and explosive with his lateral movements .. very compact stance and he does not always come out to challenge shooters on screen shots .. he does do a good job of challenging shooters in almost every other situation allowing his massive frame (6'3-220) to do the work for him .. his size is a healthy trait and NHL teams are more than likely to forgive his short comings at this point which also include puck handling and curbing his rebounds nonetheless he is a good positional goalie that would shine in front of a good defense.

Simon Bertilsson (2009), D, Brynas

Known more for his play away from the puck, the slick skating Bertillson chipped in offensively with two points while only playing in three games, missing the critical game against Team Canada .. very quiet and unassuming player, he is certainly the smartest and best defensive defenseman on the roster .. he made very subtle plays that resulted in plays up ice and relived pressure out of his zone .. he does not handle the puck overly well so he makes short quick passes out of the zone .. what makes him so valuable is that he plays within his limitations .. his knowledge of positional play marries well with his good play reading ability .. he contains his man well in one-on-one's and uses his body to clog up the middle of the ice or to block shots .. lack of size is a pressing concern as defenseman who play his style of game usually are 6'3 and above, not 5'11.

Calle Ackered (2009), D, Stockholm

A player who has stepped up and produced at every level he has participated at .. saw a handful of games in the SuperElit J20 league even though he was only 16 he handled himself well, showing that he would not be intimidated by the older competition .. a fixture on all International teams thus far he has already dressed for the Under 16 and Under 17 team before this tournament .. he shows an extortionate amount of confidence when handling the puck .. his finesse skills including his skating and puck handling skills make him a very dangerous weapon offensively .. he has a smooth, crisp stride with multiple levels of acceleration that allow him to join the rush .. his quickness allows him to find openings and his balance gives him the agility to stop and start and change directions swiftly .. his head is constantly on a swivel so he can find the best possible play with the puck .. he likes to run the offence from the offensive blue line meaning he won't carry the puck in deep in the offensive zone electing rather to get to centre and find a streaking winger .. at times he over extends himself in the offensive zone, holding onto the puck too long and this will be a habit he needs to break .. can get caught flat footed but generally his play in the defensive zone is competent if not unspectacular .. he recovers well and makes a correct outlet pass even when pressured .. lack of size prohibits him from being much of a physical player however he does do a good job competing along the boards and not getting pushed around .. is not the type of defender that will clear the crease or eliminate bodies as that would be a job for his defensive partner in order for Ackered's finesse skills to be utilized .. has all the makings of maturing into a solid offensive contributor, his game is still raw but he shows many similar traits to that of Ottawa Senators first round selection Erik Karlsson.

Anton Myllari (2009), D, Västerås

Led all Swedish defenders with 4-2-1-3 totals although finesse skills are not the high point of Myllari's game .. his strength can be pin pointed to his play in the defensive zone .. he does a good job of keeping the crease clear and is willing to hit .. his skating is no better than average in either direction and as such he has a hard time defending speed in one-on-one situations .. where he thrives is when the play shifts down low and he can use his size to physically contain guys in the scrum .. he is not always positionally sound as he neglects to step up on guys .. his lack of anticipation allows opposing forwards to sneak in behind him .. offensively he hesitates to make a decision and is slow to react when to pinch into the offensive zone to take advantage of an odd man breakout .. his shot is surprisingly hard and accurate .. he scored the most goals last season (12) in the SuperElit league for Västerås .. at this point he is very ordinary, needs to shed some weight, increase his mobility and play a more rounded game.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (2009), D, Tingsryd

Ekman-Larsson brings a fine blend of both offensive and defensive attributes to the table .. mature and poised, he is a smart hockey player who sees the ice well and responds quickly in the defensive zone .. he still needs to physically mature but is equipped with a healthy frame (6'1-165) and is wiry strong, able to clear the crease .. his skating is fluid which helps him navigate effortlessly on the ice whether it be logging the puck up ice or staying with his man stride-for-stride and forcing him to the outside .. needs to show more confidence carrying the puck although he is able to get the puck to his team mates .. he can make plays on both sides of the puck .. he is still relatively green when it comes to reading the offensive play and tends to slow down when the puck is on his blade .. he showed some glimpses of rushing the play and leaning on guys down low however those episodes were few and far between .. certainly has the potential to be a top three round pick and should he be able to improve on the offensive side of his game, and show more jam he will be a highly sough after player come June.

Peter Andersson (2009), D, Frölunda

Anderson will play this season in the SuperElit J20 league and should see ample ice with Frölunda .. he is a big defenseman, Sweden's tallest on the back end, who is the sum of his parts .. equipped with resounding defensive skills away from the puck .. he uses his reach to his advantage and does an admirable job of separating the puck from the puck carrier .. a fixture on the PK due to his reach and inclination to not force or hurry a play .. long, graceful stride armed with balance and agility which gives him unexpected mobility and lateral movement .. very limited offensive fortitude as he can not release or time his shots .. handles the puck ok but will not be confused for a defenseman with a high IQ in the offensive zone as he fails to anticipate plays unfolding .. injuries have decimated Andersson in recent years however his role is clearly identified .. a big, sturdy, no nonsense defenseman that takes care of his defensive details .. players like him are as always at a premium however he will need to make upgrades to his speed and nastiness.

Tim Erixon (2009), D, Skellefteå

Erixon is playing in his second consecutive Ivan Hlinka tournament .. after seeing minimal duty last season at the tournament he was an offensive force this year playing ample minutes on the PP and was relied upon heavily to produce .. he moves the puck well out of his zone and can skate at any level of speed with it .. carefully weaving and twisting his body to shake off any checks he does not always pick the best skating lanes and finds himself in trouble .. he will skate directly into the opposition with very little recourse or option as to how to find an escape route .. coughed up the puck more times than he should have as a result .. hockey sense needs refinement as he is a high risk, high reward offensively minded player .. controls the line with poise and precision in his passing skills .. he is creative in his approach with the puck, hesitating and buying time at the line .. Erixon's biggest flaw remains his attention to defensive detail as he is awful away from the puck .. he constantly, much like his push rushing break outs takes the wrong angle on the puck carrier .. he is prone to numerous give aways and tends to watch plays and react afterwards .. Erixon's game has many positives but will need to improve on his strength and overall defensive awareness.

Patrik Cehlin (2009), LW, Djurgården

Cehlin seems to save his best hockey for International events as he has averaged over a point a game in his last three International tournaments .. a deceptive skater with disposable speed, he generates all of his speed with his quick feet and he swallows up the ice with his cross over technique .. he has good skating fundamentals and this skill allows him to be a tyrant in the offensive zone .. he marries his skating speed with above average hand speed and is able to feather a pass in close or take a shot .. he is just as likely to take a shot as he is too pass thus making it hard to get a read on him .. respected when he hits the offensive zone and given additional time and space as a result .. his shot release could be faster .. always pushing forward and trying to manufacture offensive chances he needs to do a better job marking his man in the defensive zone .. surprisingly his positioning in the neutral zone is flawless as he can read opposing team's break outs well and halt an attack .. once the play has shifted into his zone he seems oblivious as to what to do and generally looks lost .. tries to assert himself physically but usually bounces off players nonetheless the sheer fact that he attempts a hit is encouraging .. an offensively fuelled player who needs to focus on his play away from the puck and improve his vision not relying on his speed for all offensive chances.

Carl Klingberg (2009), LW, Frölunda

Considered more of a goal scorer, Klingberg had the luxury of riding shotgun with Paajarvi and Lander, Sweden's two best offensive players thus finishing the tournament with 4-0-5-5 totals .. stealth like player who explodes out of no where to find the puck on his stick and can make heady passes .. constantly surprised the opposition with his ability to be the first man on the puck in the offensive zone, often backing up defenseman with his wrecking ball approach .. determined player down low who physically engages in corner battles with a considerable degree of success .. big, strong and balanced on his skates he maintains healthy levels of speed when handling the puck or moving up ice .. would benefit from moving his feet more once he distributes the puck as he can admire his passes .. needs to use his sizeable frame (6'2-190) to shelter the puck better in open ice situations .. makes good use of his size and offensive assets and should be a name called on NHL draft day.

Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi (2009), LW, Timra

Paajarvi has been making Swedish hockey headlines for years .. he has already participated in the WJC and is the most highly sought after Swedish forward prospect for this NHL draft .. for the second consecutive season he led the tournament in scoring, establishing that feat as an under ager last season .. an offensive dynamo who is capable of carrying a team on his shoulders with his game breaking ability .. he is an ox on his skates and once he powers his way into the offensive zone very little can stop him .. opposing defenseman fear when he gets a head of steam as they know they will have to haul him down otherwise there is always a threat of a face off at centre ice .. his anticipation and knack for finding the open ice are uncanny as the puck seems to follow him .. prefers the cycle game as he can play either wing .. a versatile forward in the offensive zone who can pass, shoot, set picks and has presence due to his size .. he is patient and will always try to architect plays down low, attempting to force defenders out of position .. like all good goal scorers he has exceptional reach and uses it to tease defenders, keeping it a hair's length from them .. he is excellent around the net because of his reach and he will shoot from any angle .. Paajarvi tends to skate through plays and does not really utilize his stop and starts .. he has healthy levels of speed and his stride will almost always get him to loose pucks before the opposition .. he has been working harder to improve his defensive play and his time in the SEL helped him understand how to play away from the puck against much older competition .. his presence on the ice automatically puts the opposing team on defense anyways .. still suffers from bouts of inconsistency and work ethic away from the puck, these are easily fixable .. a power forward in the making who at this point has to be considered a top five NHL selection.

Martin Olsson (2009), RW, HV 71

Olsson provided timely scoring but was primarily used in PK situations .. a darty skater, blessed with one step quickness he is effective in open ice and boasts a strong transition game .. able to switch easily on either side, his skating attributes are his best quality .. he reads the play very well too and is able to find the open man with a pass .. more of a play maker than a shooter, his shot is incredibly weak .. not very physical he needs time and space to manoeuvre as he is easily pushed off the puck .. his defensive acumen is what enables him a role on this team .. he marries his hand/eye coordination well away from the puck .. constantly batting down pucks and eliminating shooting lanes are a signature quality of his .. more of a role player than a difference maker he serves his team well but would be considered more of a late round NHL selection at this point.

William Wallen (2009), RW, Mississauga

Wallen has been recovering from a bout with mono and lost considerable weight this season .. he managed to led Team Sweden and the entire tournament in goal scoring (4) largely due to his performance against the Swiss where he scored a hat trick .. a smaller player who is well balanced, shifty and agile on his skates .. not equipped with blazing speed he does a formidable job getting into scoring areas and moving up and down the ice .. he operates most of the time in traffic and can make plays in the slot or along the boards .. he is persistent on the fore check and never gives up on a play offensively because he is always moving his feet .. it is his determination that pays immediate dividends as he bangs away at rebounds and finds himself in prime scoring areas.. not a blistering shot, the loss of strength due to mono has hurt his energy levels .. he does not play like a player who is 5'8 as he hurls his body at anyone and anything .. vigorously attacking the corners and emerging with it .. shows creativity and a goal scorer's touch but size is a concern at this point .. should fit in well with the Majors system as he has the type of game that will translate well on the North American level.

Mattias Lindstrom (2009), C, Skellefteå

Assistant captain for this team will never be a big scorer however he is an effective up and down winger who plays physical and likes to hit .. good skater with a long calculated stride and has the agility to move laterally fairly well for his size .. he is constantly moving his feet and looking for openings .. not a force offensively he does have a sense of where to go to be a factor and is relatively creative without the puck .. uses size when crossing the line often trying to confuse the opposing defence as to where he is going to go thus opening up room for his line mates .. imposing forward has the frame to become much bigger and supplements a role amongst the talented Swedish forwards up front giving the team a player with size and character.

Jacob Josefson (2009), C, Djurgården

Josefson should play in the SEL this season (played one game last year) and recently took place in the Under 20 pre-WJC tournament in Brno .. appears bigger than he actually is as he is thick and difficult to contain .. a choppy skater and average first step it is his balance and stride that powers him into the offensive zone .. he positions himself very well in the offensive zone and prides himself on being able to read plays and get into the best scoring position possible .. he is at his best when within 15 feet of the net .. he knows where the puck is going to go and gets to it .. he is strong on the puck and not easily stripped of it .. possessing a very quick stick he can roof pucks up high or blow them through goalies legs .. he shows a high concentration level in front and commits to plays to score .. he carries the puck well at most speeds and can make plays with it .. his faking and deking ability make him a good but not a spectacular one-on-one player .. he combines his sense and hand skills with good vision to take or receive a pass and is a permanent fixture on the PP .. defensively he needs to make some small adjustments as he tends to chase the puck, working on his positioning is a must .. lack of first step quickness will cripple his draft stock but he brings enough of a physical dimension with good scoring prowess not to see him land in the bottom half of the first round.

Anton Lander (2009), C, Timra

A fellow team mate of Paajarvi in the SEL, the two played their best hockey of the tournament when they were partnered off with one another .. Lander did not play much this season citing why he may have been omitted from the WJC .. once again finished second in tournament (4-3-3-6) scoring behind Paajarvi .. a cerebral forward with outstanding anticipation and hockey smarts .. a threat to score or make a picture perfect pass .. he uses his team mates well due to his vision .. he sees the opening before anyone and can lead his team mate with a soft pass or can thread the needle through a maze of defenders legs .. he is an excellent play making centre .. the opposition needs to take the body because if they don't he will flat out beat them .. his wrist shot serves him very well as he will score from varying depths around the slot .. his shot is very accurate but he also has the presence of mind to work in traffic .. he always gets his shots on goal and does not need much room to slide it by .. Lander can get careless with the puck and his game although mature suffers from bouts of inconsistency .. he needs to put more snap on his passes and eliminate the drop pass from his repertoire .. not an aggressive player he should learn how to marry his finesse skills while applying a physical element to it .. he does not need to be a punishing hitter but adopting a style similar to the way Yzerman handled himself would benefit him greatly .. his skating is very methodical .. short, efficient strides but he is not a burner and once again it is his super natural ability to read the play that positions him to get the puck time after time .. knocks on skating and lack of physical play are concerns but not huge ones .. he plays very similar to Sam Gagner and he had no difficulty making the jump .. expect Lander's name to be high on most NHL teams draft lists.