SEL Prospect Preview

The Swedish Elite League (SEL) had developed a reputation throughout the past decade as a greybeard league – one reliant on veteran players to comprise the vast majority of its rosters and reluctant to give younger talent the opportunities to flourish. But attitudes have been changing – starting with a couple of years ago. As most of the Swedish veterans are aging and as the younger crop of players is advancing, an injection of youthful vigor has become evident.

Although this fact did not aid Team Sweden at the recent world competitions yet, it has become clear that the tide is turning for Swedish hockey’s success at the international scene.

The SEL showcases a talented crop of up-and-comers this season and here is a brief preview of the best it has to offer.

The Vancouver Canucks selected Nicklas Danielsson as the 160th player overall in this summer’s draft and Danielsson has not since disappointed during his preseason campaign with the elite league’s Brynas. Danielsson has stepped up as an offensive force with the team due to his creativity and skating ability and will most likely be among the top six forwards in Brynas throughout the season.

Team Sweden’s coach Hardy Nilsson surprised the whole nation when selecting the 22-year old defenseman Johnny Oduya for the first installment of this year’s Euro Hockey Tour. Oduya, who has yet to make his debut in the SEL for his new club Djurgarden, has had problems adjusting to the intensity of international hockey, but given the fact that he is a rookie in SEL this season, he managed surprisingly well thus far. The Washington Capitals draftee is one of the main candidates for the SEL Rookie of the Year Award - an award won last season by Tobias Enstrom.

Another player who turned heads this preseason is Frolunda’s 18-year old winger Loui Eriksson. Dallas Stars’ second-round pick has impressed onlookers with his scoring touch and hockey sense and could very well manage to grab hold of a regular spot with the defending champions. Considering the stature of the players he is competing against and the overall depth of the team, that would be quite an achievement for the youngster.

Lulea defenseman Johan Fransson chose not to opt into this summer’s NHL draft after a frustrating 2002/2003 campaign, fueled by a persistent groin injury that had him in and out of the lineup. Before opting out, Fransson swore to come back strong and regain his draft stock for the 2004 NHL selection. So far Fransson has delivered the goods in the preseason with Lulea and is a good bet to win a spot within the team’s top six defensive core. The smooth skating Fransson has struggled with his decision-making skills in the past, although aside from his immature playmaking game he is a complete package of size, skill and mobility.

Ultimately, one cannot discuss the top Swedish prospect without bringing up the icing on the cake – Leksand’s Robert Nilsson and Frolunda’s Alexander Steen. The similarities between the two bluechippers are striking.

Both have fathers who were pivotal players in the NHL during the 1980’s (Calgary Flames’ Kent Nilsson and the Winnipeg Jet Thomas Steen). Each were selected in the first round of the NHL draft (in 2003 and 2002 respectively), while both had breakthrough campaigns in SEL last season. Nilsson and Steen are expected to take additional steps in their development with their respective clubs this season and help the Swedish World Junior team to win a medal at the upcoming festivities in Finland, with an outside shot to represent the senior Team Sweden at the World Championships.

The difference between the two, however, lies mainly in the playing style. Steen is hailed as a two-way player and is more defensively responsible. That said, Steen, like Nilsson, has the offensive capacity to make dazzling plays with the puck and score highlight-reel goals.

Conversely, Nilsson is the definition of the word flashy – playing a style reminiscent of his father, Kent, and current NHL’er Michael Nylander. And as they say – like father like son. Just like his old man, Nilsson is an offensively-centered player with a defensive game that leaves something to be desired.

Expect both to be impact players in the SEL this season.