Swedes top NHL wish lists

The recent world junior championships in Ottawa did nothing to change the perception that Ontario native John Tavares and Victor Hedman of Sweden are the top prospects for the NHL entry draft in June, according to the league's scouting bureau. 

  • Victor Hedman of MoDo is a possible No. 1 draft pick for the NHL and headlines a class of eight Swedes all likely to go in the first round. Bildbyran photo

  • Tavares and Hedman remained the top North American and European skaters eligible for the draft, respectively, as NHL Central Scouting released its mid-season rankings.
    Hedman could become the first Swede in 20 years to be picked first in the draft. Vancouver's Mats Sundin was the top pick in 1989. Hedman, a six-foot-five-inch defenseman who plays for MoDo in the Swedish Elite League, recorded two assists and a plus-4 rating in six games as his team won silver at the world juniors for the second straight year.
    Hedman isn’t the only Swede the NHL is watching. The top seven European prospects are all Swedes, and they could join 46 of their countrymen in North America. For the first time ever, each of the 30 NHL teams has at least one Swede on its roster. Swedes are the third largest nationality in the NHL behind Canadians and Czechs.
    After Hedman, Timrå winger Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi is the top-ranked Swedish prospect. The Timrå winger, however, said Feb. 11 he wanted to remain in Sweden for another season before he makes the jump to the NHL, and he signed a one-year extension with his club. Chances are, however, his name will still go into the entry draft.
    Next on the list is Djurgården center Jacob Johansson. No. 5 prospect is Carl Klingberg from Frölunda. Hedman’s MoDo teammate, left wing Anton Lander, is fourth on the list while Skellefteå defenseman David Rundblad is No. 6.
    Tim Erixon, a defenseman with the Malmö Redhawks, is the No. 7 European prospect. Erixon was born in Port Chester, NY, to Swedish parents.
    The No. 1-ranked goalie is also a Swede, IF Molndal net minder Robin Lehner.
    The highest-ranked non-Swedish European prospect is Nikita Dvurechensky of Russia. Finnish goalie Mikko Koskinen of Färjestad in the Elitserien is the No. 2 net minding prospect.
    After Tavares, the top North American skaters are Matt Duchene of the Ontario Hockey League Brampton Battalion, and Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. Kane was part of Canada's recent championship team.
    Next on the list is American Jordan Schroeder from the University of Minnesota, and Brandon Wheat Kings forward Brayden Schenn, the younger brother of defenseman Luke Schenn of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
    The top skater from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is Simon Despres of Saint John, while the league's Olivier Roy (Cape Breton) and Jean-Francois Berube (Montreal) are among the top five goalie prospects.
    The top ranked North American goalie was Edward Pasquale, who plays for the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League, ahead of Scott Stajcer of Owen Sound. American Michael Lee is third.
    The NHL entry draft takes place in Montreal on June 26. Central Scouting will release its last rankings in late April.