Draft Thoughts (Sjo Me The Money Edition):
In Sweden's J18 Nationell league, LHD Gustav Sjoqvist is a bit of an offensive dynamo, scoring 7 points in 5 games this season for AIK, and 10 points in 15 games in 2022-23. That's not a true representation of who he is as a player though, as that league is a lower level of competition than what he's used to in the J20, where he only managed one goal and 12 points 43 games, to go with 65 penalty-minutes. His production in the lower league might have been inflated by the fact that he's more physically developed than most of his counterparts, measuring 6'3", and 207lbs, but it may give hope of a bit more underlying skill than he's shown in the J20. His play earned him a game on AIK's Allsvenskan squad, but he was unable to produce.
The Sjoqvist of today is a stay-at-home minute-muncher who can move the puck and shutdown the opposing team's top players with his robust physical game. What sets him apart from other players of his ilk is his magnificent skating, made possible by his long, powerful stride coupled with his capacity to change speed and direction almost instantly, which provides him with top-quality gap control. He's intimidating and hard to play against, and he adds in a little nastiness to his physical game, with the odd elbow or crosscheck mixed in for good measure. He dominates the greasy areas and wins battles all over the ice with fiery competitiveness. In the J18, he pinches a lot, joins the rush, and contributes to his teams' offense, but he sticks to a much more conservative, defensive game in the J20. There, he makes mostly safe, simple plays, but hopefully has a more skilled, dynamic game lurking underneath the surface. As an added offensive weapon, he is endowed with a wicked shot that comes with power and accuracy, but his main proficiency is his heads-up breakout passes that kickstart the rush smoothly. Sjoqvist plays masterful defense, facilitated by his quickness and his abillity to close quick on opponents using his long wingspan and animated stick. He has a high level of awareness, and a keen ability to read and react to the play.
It is said that Sjoqvist's puck-skills are a bit lacking, which may be what limits his offensive potential, but all the other tools are there. He needs to scan better and make more sound decisions on his breakouts, as he can be a little predictable. If he can develop his offense, he could be a really interesting prospect, but right now, he looks like a bottom pairing defensive defenseman who can move the puck. Look for him in later rounds.
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