Wings select Andersson in third round
The Detroit Red Wings made their second draft pick in the third round (#88 overall) on a Swedish center Joakim Andersson. Can’t say I’m surprised that the Wings drafted a Swedish prospect.
Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson likened him to Keith Primeau. The Wings didn’t expect him to be available this low, they thought he’d get taken in the top half of the second round, if not late in the first round.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be like him, but he’s a Keith Primeau kind of player,” Hakan Andersson said. “He’s a big guy who works both ways and is good enough to make a play. Obviously, the odds of him becoming Keith Primeau are very small, but that’s the type of player he is. He thinks the game well, works both ways, has good size but needs to fill out a little more and work on his foot speed.
“He did not play so well in April, in the under-18 world championships. He’s a real competitive guy, works hard and I think he just ran out of gas at the end of the season.”
Joakim Andersson said Detroit is his favorite team and Henrik Zetterberg his favorite player.
“We are a bit the same,” Andersson said. “I think he’s a bit faster than me, that’s what I need to work on, the first step, skating.”
Source: Getty Images
Andersson played for Vastra Frolunda, a Swedish Junior team, and scored 20 goals, notched 26 assists, and had 60 PIM in 41 games this past season.
Scouting Report: Along with Simon Hjalmarsson and Lars Eller, he could be one of three Frolunda forward products selected in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft… at 6-2, 198 pounds, he has both ample size and a promising two-way game to become a quality NHLer… was rated fifth among International skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings–ahead of countryman Hjalmarsson, but behind Eller… appeared in only one game for Vastra Frolunda at the Elitserien level in 2006-07, and was limited to just one assist in six games for Sweden at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championships…
Source: Getty Images
The 18 year old Swede will spend the next two years in Sweden developing his play. The Wings believe his numbers fell off because Andersson basically ran out of gas at the end of the season. With more experience, his endurance should hopefully improve.
“He’s a really competitive guy, works hard, and I think he just ran out of gas at the end of the season,†Hakan Andersson said. “I think that’s why he fell a little bit. I expected him to go (in the) top half of the second round, even late first round, possibly.
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