Swedish Prospects Hoping To Rebound

Chicago Blackhawks second round pick 2000 (49th overall), Jonas NordqvistClick Here is a look at four players that are either trying to bounce back from sub par performances last season or are coming back to the Swedish Elite League after tours in the Second League. Common for all of them is that they want a rebound in their careers and once and for all prove that they are NHL caliber, despite the setbacks they have encountered.Here to view this Link., has a lot to prove this season. Nordqvist, who this far in his career certainly has not had the development that was projected three years ago, has been given a new shot in the Swedish Elite League. This time with Lulea after a season with Rogle in the Second League that started off amazingly well for him, but ended in a series of no show performances from Nordqvist when the team needed him the most.

Lars JonssonClick Nordqvist, whose biggest assets are his vision on the ice and elite level passing game, will most likely start the season with a role as a Winger on a scoring line with Lulea. This will be a change for Nordqvist, as he mostly played center earlier in his career. And to excel in this new role he has to find a way to improve his acceleration and be a little grittier in front of the net. 21 year old Nordqvist has the tools to succeed in the Swedish Elite League and then eventually make it to the NHL, but it is about time that he show them regularly now in what likely is a make-or-break season for him. Here to view this Link. is the highest Swedish draft pick this decade, as he went to Boston Bruins as 7th overall in 2000. But after that day, Jonsson have failed to prove to anyone why the Bruins made him their first round choice. Last season Jonsson had an opportunity to step up one level in his game and make himself into a respected Elite League player, instead he failed miserably and was unable to steal ice time in Leksand from defensemen with the better part of their careers behind them.

Detroit Red Wings draftee (157th overall 2001) Andreas JamtinClick Turning down an offer from the Finnish powerhouse club TPS Turku, Jonsson chose to remain in Leksand where he once again will see himself competing with veteran players for a spot among the top-six defensemen. Jonsson could probably have benefited from a change of clubs in his career at this point instead he is now in the same position today as one year ago. And the main question remains, is he now ready now for the next step in his career, which is to establish himself in the Swedish Elite League? And if not now, when will he be ready?Here to view this Link. is coming back to the Swedish Elite League to play for HV 71 after a season with AIK in the Second League. Jamtin is a hungry and ambitious player who put up good numbers with AIK, but he also carries a history of having an attitude problem as well as not being the most coachable player around.

Another Red Wings’ draftee in HV 71 is the 23-year-old goalie Stefan LivClick For the 20-year-old Jamtin, this upcoming season will be about maturing mentally as well as physically. If he is able to do that in the right way, the quick and highly skilled winger will be in the NHL in the next couple of years.Here to view this Link.. The 2002-03 season could be described as the season when reality came back and struck Liv. In the previous two seasons, Liv had come out basically of nowhere and achieved almost everything one could achieve as a goalie in Sweden. He secured a spot on the National team, became well-respected among his peers as well as gaining celebrity status with media and hockey fans all across Sweden.

However, last season it all fell apart for him and occasionally he even had trouble keeping his job as the number one goalie for HV 71. Liv has an unorthodox style similar to that of Dominik Hasek which some of the SEL forwards have started to adapt to. In order for him to bounce back this season, he must work hard on improving the holes in his game, which reared their ugly head last season. He might also want to focus more on the hockey part of his life and less on the local celebrity side.