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S46 SMJHL Scouting Report: Kristoffer Svensson

With the upcoming draft right around the corner the general managers have their work cut out for them as this draft class is as stacked as it has ever been, at least in terms of sheer volume. Teams will have no shortage of potential hopefuls to choose from and the competition is fierce. As draft day is upon us it is an apt time to look into one of those players that may very well have flown under your radar.

Today we're having a look at one specific European center; Kristoffer Svensson.

Amidst the sea of talented centers he's competing with - names such as Mikko Kakko, Borromini Cannellini, Bobby Sharp and none other than Steve Yzerman Jr. - it'd be easy to pass over the young Swede. Doing so could however prove to be a mistake as he has proven himself to be a strong offensive piece with an excellent eye for goal-scoring plays and the hands needed to make them happen.

During the recent prospect showcase we were shown just what this could look like as he was paired up with linesmates Olivier Cloutier and Ashburn McAllister on the Bighorns lineup. Even as the Bighorns exited with a disappointing round one finish in the playoffs, the numbers put up by the line during the regular season shows promise. Prior to playoffs the line had contributed 101 points for the Bighorns, with Svensson accounting for 35 of them. Concerns have surfaced whether or not this offensive burst from Svensson is mainly due to the projected top-pick Cloutier's presence on the line, but only time will tell.

Svensson's game is based strongly around seeing plays before they happen, and leveraging that advantage. This is almost a bit of a requirement as the Swede isn't the fastest guy out there, and he makes up for it with his hockey sense. He would correctly be categorized as a pass-first player, but he has both the hands and the shot to mix up his offense should he choose to utilize them more.

On the defense side of things he isn't one to shy away from his duties. Rather, he tends to see them as opportunities for creating offense - often making reads to intercept passes or pinching receiving players allowing for the play to be turned around.

On the whole we see him as a bit of a sleeper pick - projecting him to go after the first round but being of big potential value to whoever finds themselves able to snag him. Whether or not his style of play will translate well into the SMJHL is an unknown, but one that we would be interested in seeing managers and coaches explore.

-ESP, 2018