Umicevic Feels the Rub

Dragan Umicevic is not your average prospect. For one, the Swedish-born winger considers his Slavic roots to be predominant to his Swedish-based boyhood. To boot, the gifted but enigmatic sniper may just be a true secret of the 2003 draft about to get out.

With a name that seems more appropriate for a soccer career the Stockholm native conceeds that, given his background, hockey was not the natural choice for him. The son of Yugoslavian immigrants, Umicevic was brought up watching soccer more than hockey.

“I’m a jugge (Swedish slang for Yugoslavian)” says the 20-year old Sodertalje forward. “Soccer would have been the natural choice for me and I was pretty good at it, but as it turned out I had more success in hockey so I stayed with that.

The third round pick, 184th overall, by Edmonton in the 2003 NHL entry draft, Umicevic has been blossoming this season into a potential star. Knows as a gifted but raw player, Umicevic was considered to be an unscrambled puzzle in his draft year and confused scouts with bouts of inconsistent play.

Gifted but Cocky

Umicevic first established himself in Sodertalje’s junior program where he showcased his natural offensive gifts. There he broke out with a bang in the in 2001-02 finishing second in league scoring, notching 51 points - on 20 goals - in only 36 games. He subsequently split the following year between pro and junior in what was a promising rookie campaign.

It was around this time that Umicevic developed a league-wide reputation as a cocky sniper with questionable work ethic, especially in the defensive end of the ice.

“Normally he moves well out on the ice but he just refused to move his feet well and get his body involved,” says a McKeen’s scout. “The unfavourable impression was that of a cherry picker, though an extremely gifted one.”

Season from Hell

If there was ever a time to learn from his mistakes it would be as a byproduct of the 2003-04 season when Umicevic faced the toughest challenge of his young career. Sweden’s U20 national team coach Torgny Bendelin made it as no secret that Umicevic was not part of his plan for the winter’s big World Junior tournament. This was despite team Sweden’s desperate need of big skilled forwards.

Umicevic’s bad habits rubbed off the wrong way in the SEL as well where he struggled to earn icetime with Sodertalje. The signing of Robert Dome sealed the youngster’s fate as he was sent down to Bjorkloven of the second league.

The demotion, Umicevic says, was the equivalent of a sudden cold shower.

“It was a healthy experience for me. It made me realize how hard you have to work to say at the top level”, reminisced Umicevic.

High Ceiling

The demotion was something that he was determined to never go through again. After a slow start to the 2004-05 season this fall Umicevic exploded in late October and into November. Playing on the top line with lockout newcomers Olli Jokinen and Mikael Samuelsson, Umicevic went on a six-game point streak. Now with six goals and 14 points in 23 games he is the league’s most productive player aged 21 or younger.

“(Umicevic) works his butt off”, said Jokinen, “we (have been) a great fit and hopefully we will be even better.”

“Only Robert Nilsson has more pure offensive talent among Swedish prospects than Umicevic,” says a McKeen’s scout. “He has terrific range, nifty moves and an exceptional touch around the net. If he continues developing the Oilers have a steal on their hands.”

"I don’t know where this guy’s celing is (but) he could reach the absolute top" said Sodertalje’s coach Timo Lahtinen.