[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Frankenstein Edition):

If you haven't already heard of LHD Gabriel Eliasson, he's a 6'6",205lb monster who is pretty high on some lists- McKenzie has him at #55, and McKeen's has him at #96, just to name a few. Eliasson is one of the youngest players in this year's draft class, with a September 9th birthday, and he put up 6 points in 36 games for HV71 of the J20 this season, to go with 103 penalty-minutes. He participated in Sweden's entry in the Hlinka, with no points and 12 PIM in 4 games, but he drew some attention at the 5 Nations, where he was one of the culprits that started a bit of a brawl after the game ended against Team USA.

Chances are, you will be told at some point that Eliasson fits the old adage that, "he's a good skater for his size", which usually means, "he has average speed at best when compared to smaller players". From a technical standpoint, his technique looks smooth and fluid with long strides, so I have no doubt that his mobility will improve as he gets stronger, but he needs plenty of improvement in all areas. The real reason he's getting so much attention from scouts is the intimidation factor he brings- he's hard to go up against, with his surly disposition, and his nasty physical game. Eliasson plays a borderline dirty game, but sometimes steps over that line, with questionable hits, elbows, crosschecks, and various other shenanigans. He doesn't have to be told to finish his checks, as he hits every chance he gets, and engages physically along the boards, and in the corners. He's a force down low, and keeps the crease clear. He keeps his play with the puck very plain and simple- he doesn't pinch in from the point, or join the rush very often, and makes very basic outlets. Eliasson offers next to nothing in terms of offense.

Eliasson is called a "stay at home" type, or a "defensive defenseman", and while he passes the eye test, the underlying stats say that he doesn't make a significant impact in this end of the ice. One issue that hurts him in this area, apart from his skating, is that he gives his opponents too much room in regards to his gap control, and another is his stickhandling, which is said to be rough- he often loses the handle on the puck, and can commit fumbles. It also affects his passing game. Discipline is a problem as well, and he can hurt his team with bad penalties. If you're selecting Eliasson, it means you accept the fact that he will be a long-term project, as he's extremely raw, and there's so much to work on. His skating needs to be upgraded, but his puck skills need significant improvement. Eliasson reminds me a bit of Bruins' 2023 7th-rounder Kristian Kostadinski, and Flames' 7th-rounder from the same year, Axel Hurtig- both of whom, after one of last year's International tournaments, I referred to as looking like Frankenstein's Monster on the ice. In my opinion, both of these players had much more game than Eliasson does now. I have a feeling, though, that Eliasson gets picked in the 4th, or 5th round by a team that sees him for what he could be in the future, and not for what he is now.