[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 9):

C/LW Milton Gastrin (6'1",185lbs)
MoDo (J20): 30gp/ 14g/ 20a/ 34pts, +6, 16 PIM

C Milton Gastrin first made a name for himself as Captain of Sweden's entry in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (10 points in 5 games), where he anchored the tournament's most dominant line, with Ivar Stenberg and Viktor Klingsell. He is well-liked by scouts, and is ranked 4th (EU Skaters) by Central Scouting, #27 by McKenzie, and #28 by Button. Gastrin has been rewarded for being the second-leading scorer on MoDo's J20 squad, with 6-games on the SHL team, but he has yet to record a point. He is a playmaking center who plays a responsible two-way game with physicality, but even more than that, he's a leader who oozes intensity, consistency, and high-motor- he doesn't cheat the game, and sets an example. Gastrin plays in all situations, and is very well-rounded, with a highly-translatable style; there aren't many true flaws in his game.

Gastrin is fairly well-balanced offensively, but he leans towards his playmaking. Though he doesn't hold on to the puck for too long, preferring to move the puck with quick touches, he exerts excellent vision and creativity to create opportunities for his team, and will patiently delay to wait for the right play to arise- he thinks quickly, makes sound decisions, and plays at a high pace. He's a skilled passer, and can get the puck through small spaces in traffic to teammates in high-danger with crisp, accurate feeds. Mobility-wise, he may not be a burner, but he's an excellent skater who can occasionally separate in open ice, beat defenders wide, or blow past checkers in the neutral zone with explosive bursts of speed. Gastrin mingles plenty of physicality into his game, gets his nose dirty in battles at both ends of the ice, and will throw hits to dislodge pucks; he is uncommonly strong and sturdy on his skates, with the ability to barge through contact. He can score goals by crashing the net to shovel in loose pucks, and he will plant himself there to screen the goalie and get tips while taking abuse and jockeying for position, but he also owns a quick release on a dangerous shot that can fool netminders and pick corners. Gastrin exhibits quick hands and deceptive handling, and he can drive play through transition with lightning-quick give-and-go passes.

Gastrin is a responsible and detailed defensive player who provides a calming presence with his awareness and superb positioning that keeps him always on the right side of the puck. He stays active, plays aggressive, and helps to limit defensive zone time- he's also good on faceoffs. Off the puck, he skates smart routes to support the play in all areas, reads the ice well, and presents himself as a playable option. If there's any weaknesses, it may be the fact that while he's creative, he's not elite, and he's really not dynamic or flashy in any way; he keeps his play with the puck simple and risk-free. There's always good ideas, but sometimes the execution is a bit sloppy, and while he's a skilled player, he doesn't do anything at an elite level. Gastrin is an excellent candidate for middle-6 NHL duty, with the potential for more, but some suggest that he might be more of a goal-scorer in the pros. Look for him near the end of the first-round in this summer's draft.