Jonatan Berggren is a highlight factory.
It’s hard to keep track of all the jaw-dropping plays this young Swede makes, which is why he’s about to be drafted into the NHL and could even sneak his way into the first round.
The fact he fell from No. 24 in Central Scouting’s mid-term European Skater rankings to No. 30 when all was said and done could mean he falls in the draft and one NHL team will end up with a steal in Berggren.
Here’s some more on Berggren…
Team: Skelleftea AIK
Position: RW
Shoots: Left
Age: 17
From: Uppsala, Sweden
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 181 pounds
With high-end skating ability and a flair for offence, he led Sweden’s SuperElit junior league in scoring with a remarkable 57 points in 38 games this past season—he’s also an analytics darling who often draws comparisons to Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson thanks to his speed, puck control and zone entries.
THERE’S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
If you listen to scouts and fans talk about his offensive upside you’d figure Berggren would be a lottery pick, but there’s no guarantee he’ll even be taken on Day 1 of the draft. One reason is he’s not known for his defensive acumen. He’ll turn the puck over trying to do too much with it and he’s not very big so he’s often at a disadvantage when it comes to puck battles.
In 10 games with Skelleftea’s SHL club he failed to register a single point, which suggests he’s not quite ready to play full-time minutes against pros just yet.
On the other hand, when he’s up against players his own age—both domestically and at international tournaments—he’s a handful. He was tied for third in scoring at the recent under-18 championship, finishing with five goals and 10 points in seven games.
WHAT THE SCOUTS SAY…
Jeff Marek: “A late addition into the first round of the draft for most, Berggren is a great skater with high-end hockey smarts and a potent offensive game. Despite being on the smaller side he doesn’t shy away from the physical game.”
Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects: “An absolute wrecking ball of a player who has been posting tremendous numbers in the J20 circuit. Logs miles of ice as he forechecks with impunity, distributes the puck and knows how to finish as well. Terrific international performances at the Hlinka, Five Nations and U18’s offer scouts a glimpse of his skill on some big stages and he’s even looked capable in a 10 game stint in the SHL. Some of the best one-on-one skills in the class. A player his coaches love and his opponents hate.”
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