Rookie swedes and predictions
 

So what swedish rookies will we see in the league next year and what kind of numbers will they put up?

Last years promising rookie crop that didn't quite live up to our high expectations might temper our optimism a bit. (I for one thought Pääjärvi and Oel would be Calder material). On the other hand there was 20 swedish rookies by Nhl:s standard which is great.

So give some reasonable expectations.

This is roughly the guys that can be rookies (probably forgot a couple of players):

Tim Erixon
David Rundblad
Alex Urbom
Adam Larsson?
Gabriel Landeskog
Mika Zibanejad? (will very likely play in SEL)
Anton Rödin
David Ullström
Andreas Engqvist
Mattias Sjögren
Erik Gustafsson
Robin Lehner
André Petersson
Anders Nilsson
Sebastian Erixon
Eddie Läck
Carl Hagelin
Gustav Nyquist
Joakim Andersson
Mattias Ekholm
Anton Lander
Jacob Markström
Carl Klingberg
Mark Owuya
Anders Lindbäck
Marcus Krüger
Jhonas Enroth

Lehner will be in the AHL, Pettersson is a dark horse to make the team but he could be AHL material as well.

Krüger, Larsson, Landeskog, Rundblad, Tim Erixon. That's it for the opening night rosters, I think.

Fredrik Pettersson is likely to head back to Sweden if he's demoted once more.

That sounds about right if Adam Larsson come over, I also don't think Krüger will be a regular for Chicago. Hopefully there will be some surprises, but lots of theese players will probably play their whole season in AHL.

Big seasons for Erixon and Landeskog.

Kroogs looked very good for Chicago in the playoffs in April. The coaches seem to like him for sure.

The bolded ones are pretty much locks in my mind, except for Ekholm, but with the situation they're in at the moment I think he'll make it. Poile said they'll have an all-rookie 3rd pariring. Italics will see some NHL team but not be full-timers. Of the others the only one who's got a realistic NHL shot is Zibanejad.

Judging by what I have read Mattias Sjögren and Carl Hagelin have some chance to make their respective teams if they have great camps. Andreas Enqvist might get a chance on Montreals fourth line while Lars Eller is injured at the start of the season. Nice if this comes true, I would never have thought theese three would be NHL-players.

Tim Erixon - Makes the team out of camp

David Rundblad - Makes the team out of camp

Alex Urbom - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with Devils

Adam Larsson - Makes the team out of camp

Gabriel Landeskog - Makes the team out of camp

Mika Zibanejad - Back to sweden for another year

Anton Rödin - Full season in AHL

David Ullström - Full season in AHL

Andreas Engqvist - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with Montreal

Mattias Sjögren - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with Washington

Erik Gustafsson - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with
Philadelphia

Robin Lehner - Full season in AHL

André Petersson - Full season in AHL

Anders Nilsson - Full season in AHL

Sebastian Erixon - Full season in AHL

Eddie Läck - Full season in AHL

Carl Hagelin - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with Rangers

Gustav Nyquist - Full season in AHL

Joakim Andersson - Full season in AHL

Mattias Ekholm - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with Nashville

Anton Lander - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with Oilers

Jacob Markström - Full season in AHL

Carl Klingberg - Full season in AHL

Mark Owuya - Full season in AHL/ECHL

Anders Lindbäck - Backup in NHL

Marcus Krüger - Starts in AHL, called up during season to play x games with Chicago

Jhonas Enroth Backup in NHL

I agree with you, hockeyfrilla.

Although I think Lehner will get a few games this season and I think there's a very good chance that Sjögren, Krüger and especially Ekholm will be in their respective lineups when the nhl season starts. Nashville will have two rookie defensemen in their lineup and right now it's between Blum, Ekholm, Josi and Ellis, but in reality I think you could leave Ellis out of the discussion.

There's also some questionmarks around Rundblad. It wouldn't surprise me to see him outside of Ottawa's lineup and in the A.

Lehner is almost a lock to play 5-15 games. If Anderson goes down, or at the end of the year when it doesn't really matter anymore, Lehner will play. Alex Auld is essentially there to be bald and a good guy in the locker room, not to play.

Would be very surprised to see Rundblad in the AHL, and even André Petersson's probably gonna get a game or two at the end of the year.

Also, with the Eller injury, wouldn't be surprised to see Engqvist start the season in the NHL with the Habs.

Tim Erixon - Full time with the big boys, maybe a few games from the press box.
David Rundblad - Mostly in Ottawa, but maybe a small stretch with Baby Sens.
Alex Urbom - Start in Albany, good chance of call-up before christmas.
Adam Larsson - Full time Devil.
Gabriel Landeskog - Full time Avalanche player.
Mika Zibanejad - SEL.
Anton Rödin - AHL, injury call-up if they pile up in Vancouver.
David Ullström - AHL.
Andreas Engqvist -Press box player for Montreal? Bottom lines? AHL? Very borderline but should see NHL action one way or the other.
Mattias Sjögren - Makes it out of camp, but will have to earn his stay.
Erik Gustafsson - AHL being first call-up on D.
Robin Lehner - AHL with call-ups. 55 games AHL, 5-10 NHL.
André Petersson - AHL all season, maybe a few games late when the tank is officially on.
Anders Nilsson - Battling to be AHL starter.
Sebastian Erixon - AHL, call-up if lucky.
Eddie Läck AHL starter, injury call-up.
Carl Hagelin AHL, getting a few NHL games.
Gustav Nyquist AHL.
Joakim Andersson AHL.
Mattias Ekholm Tough one, could go either way.
Anton Lander AHL, will get some NHL action.
Jacob Markström AHL, injury call-up/few NHL games late in the season.
Carl Klingberg - AHL.
Mark Owuya - AHL backup.
Anders Lindbäck NHL backup, 20-30 games.
Marcus Krüger Starts in NHL, risk for some pressbox/AHL time.
Jhonas Enroth NHL backup, 20-30 games.

My "educated" guess.. :)

Looks great to me, I'm a tad more positive about Ekholm and a little bit more skeptical about Sjögren, though.

Yes, Sjögren is a hard one. He's older, undrafted, and will not get a free pass in any situation. On the other hand he's already a mature player you know will be putting the effort in, and he seemed to be making an good impression during the rookie camp. Also not a ton of forwards on one-way contracts which helps his chances. I think he could be a surprise.

Also, I'm not really sure about Ullström's situation so I just assumed he's gonna be stuck in the minors. I guess he could realistically get some games with the big boys.

Tim Erixon-Makes the team and has a decent rookie season
David Rundblad-Makes the team and has a decent rookie season
Alex Urbom-Makes the team from the camp or during the season
Adam Larsson?-Makes the team
Gabriel Landeskog-Makes the team
Mika Zibanejad? (will very likely play in SEL)-SEL
Anton Rödin-AHL with some call-ups
David Ullström-AHL and some call-ups
Andreas Engqvist-NHL, 4th line
Mattias Sjögren-Makes the team
Erik Gustafsson-Makes the team
Robin Lehner-AHL/NHL call-ups
André Petersson-AHL/NHL call-ups
Anders Nilsson-AHL
Sebastian Erixon-AHL and some call-ups
Eddie Läck-AHL/ call ups after Schneider is traded
Carl Hagelin-AHL/NHL call up
Gustav Nyquist-AHL
Joakim Andersson-AHL, some call-ups later this season
Mattias Ekholm-Makes the team
Anton Lander-Makes the team later during the season
Jacob Markström-Makes the team
Carl Klingberg-Starts in AHL, the a call up
Fredrik Pettersson-SEL
Mark Owuya-AHL
Anders Lindbäck-NHL
Marcus Krüger-Makes the team
Jhonas Enroth-NHL

Assigned to the AHL:
Anton Rödin
Sebastian Erixon
Mark Owuya
Anton Blomqvist

Mattias Lindström is heading back to Sweden.

I have watched a bunch of preseason-games and been very dissapointed with almost every rookie swede.

Krüger is getting outplayed for that center spot for Chicago.
Zibanejad looking mediocre and Rundblad terrible for Ottawa.
Carl Klingberg have been pretty invisible.
Sjögren and Engqvist not making a push for the spots that are available.
Tim Erixon not impressing.
the list goes on...


Adam Larsson and Gustav Nyquist are the only positive surprises for me so far. I've read Ritola had a good game.

It seems like we will see fewer rookies than at least I expected in NHL this year, at least judging by the preseason games. The biggest dissapointment for me have to be Zibanejad and Rundblad, expected great stuff from those two but they clearly not belong in NHL, at this point.

EDIT: Ok now Zibanejad scored a goal :P

Hmm I like what I have seen from Erixon.. havnt seen too much though a game and a half...

And now Rundblad was magical in the third period of Ottawa-Winnipeg. Serves me right for doubting the guy. Erixon have been decent (good in the prospect tournament), but he needs to show more if he wants a spot for the Rangers.

Both Tim Erixon and Carl Hagelin are on the roster that will travel to Europe.

Carl Klingberg and André Petersson assigned to the AHL.

Tim Erixon and Carl Hagelin assigned to Connecticut.

By the looks of it it seems like there will not be so many swedish rookies bat the start of the season.

My guess is that Zibanejad, Adam Larsson and Landeskog will start with the big club. Zibanejad looks good and theres injuries in Ottawa (Regin and dacosta)

Besides those three. Enroth and Lindbäck will be backups, Markström will start out as backup.

That could actually be it, noone else has locked up their spot. Lots of guys with no chance and some on the bubble.

Krüger hasn't impressed and even while Chicago have a lot of injuries he probably will start out in AHL.
Nyquist is looking great, but he will most likely not get a spot, especially not if Brunnström earns a contract.
Rundblad should have a spot, he is looking better and better and could be a important offensive weapon on a offensively challanged Ottawa, However Cowen got the last spot locked up and they wont bench Kuba. However thats a misstake, they should let Rundblad play.
Engqvist and Sjögren both had good chances to earn a spot, but it's seems like none of those will make the cut at this point.
Lander have played great, but Oilers will probably go with Brule as fourth line center anyway.
Gustafsson and Ekholm, not sure about those guys situation, from what i've read it seems like Laakso is getting the spot Ekholm is trying out for.

The rest= to AHL

One player I liked a bit is Joakim Andersson, he is the opposite of flashy, but a very solid player. If he hangs in there and work hard he could at one point be a bottom-six NHL-player. I had kind of written him off.

From what I've read, Erik Gustafsson is close to a roster spot. He'll likely play a lot this year as a injury call-up either way.

David Ullström & Anders Nilsson heading to Bridgeport.