SEL NN: Less is Mora

Life has never been better for hockey fans in Mora. In its inaugural year in the Swedish Elite League the Mora hockey club has unexpectedly become one of the sport’s hot spots in the country.

A run-of-the-mill team in the second league at the beginning of last season, with a mere 1500 people in the stands on a good night, Mora contended for a SEL birth but hardly for hockey superiority. Consistently successful, the club was promoted to the SEL and, in the offseason, took advantage of the NHL lockout signing several NHL’ers.

After locking up Shawn Horcoff, Daniel Cleary and Marcel Hossa, Mora hit the jackpot signing Ottawa Senators’ superstar sniper and Marcel’s older brother Marian. No doubt, the signing of Marcel was the necessary incentive for Marian Hossa to join Mora in mid-November.

Hossa’s signing shows just how the world of hockey has been turned upside down so far in Sweden. All of a sudden one of the top players in the world is playing for an expansion SEL club in a town of only 20,000 inhabitants.

Through seven games Hossa has not disappointed his fans, scoring five goals and seven points in seven games.

Eyes on Franzén

Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland has his eyes on Linkoping center Johan Franzen who seems likely to join the club next season. An overage draft selection in 2004, Franzén has not gotten off to a fast start to this season notching only five goals and two assists thus far, but this does not seem to bother Holland.

“I absolutely believe that he can step in a checking (role) for us next season, and I also think that he has the ability to chip in a little offensivley as well,” Holland said after watching Franzén play against Lulea where Franzén notched the game winning goal.

Undrafted regulars

Unacceptably overlooked in the past two NHL drafts have been defensemen Ola Svanberg of HV 71 and Per Savilahti-Nagander of Lulea. The 19-year olds have been difference makers so far for their respective clubs in a lockout-filled SEL.

Svanberg plays a slick passing game and has consistently looked like an experienced veteran with his poise and decision making. His plays drew praise from Swedish TV colour commentator and Washington Capitals scout Calle Johansson.

“Svanberg really takes pride in making good passes. I wish more young Swedish defensemen could be like that,” Johansson said.

Though he does not possess the skating skills of Johan Fransson, Svanberg moves fluidly around the ice and knows his limitations.

Nagander got devastating reviews of his disappointing performances for the Swedish U20 national team earlier this year and started off the season with shattered confidence. He worked through his problems and developed a strong two-way game, highlighted by exceptional physical performances and offering a polished passing game with slick puck skills. Nagander’s skating remains on the raw side but he has a good hockey sense and an impressive frame (6-4, 210) to compensate.

Expect both Svanberg and Nagander to play for Sweden at the World Junior Championships this December and January.

Quote Unquote

“What the hell, it’s hockey you know. It’s not a girl’s game.” – Detroit Red Wings’ feisty prospect Andreas Jamtin, never afraid to go beyond the standard clichés of the game. Jamtin got involved physically with Zdeno Chara and Sheldon Souray of Farjestad in a recent match, nailing both tough-nosed rearguards at open ice. They subsequently returned the favour.

Jamtin’s no-nonsense play has been one of the few bright spots this season for HV 71, the defending league champions still in a hangover after winning the league championship last spring (7-14-4 record thus far).