[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 20):

RD Theodor Hallquisth (6'2",172lbs)
Orebro (J20): 31gp/ 5g/ 12a/ 17pts, +14, 26 PIM

Righty Theodor Hallquisth showed very well in December's World Junior A Challenge, with 5 assists in 5 games, and put his two-way, puck-moving game on full display- revealing why he was ranked #22 (EU Skaters) by Central Scouting. Impressively, Hallquisth has earned 12 games on Orebro's SHL squad, despite being young by draft standards, with a June 14th, 2007 birthday. His 17 points in 31 games ties him for 29th in scoring by D in the J20, or 7th for scoring by D under-18. Hallquisth does a bit of everything, and can play in any situation, but he perhaps doesn't do anything at an elite level- nor is he flashy or dynamic in his approach. He is however, a workhorse who can log big minutes.

Hallquisth is very mobile, with excellent quickness, but could use upgrades to his top-speed and explosiveness- he has a long way to go before he's filled out, so this will improve naturally as he gets stronger. His edges are smooth and fluid, and help him to pivot, or change direction almost instantly. Despite being built like a bean-pole, he employs a physical style; he finishes his checks, and can throw some big hits at times, but will also absorb contact with composure to complete a play. He seems to win most of his 50/50 battles, and protects his net aggressively. He executes gap-control early, matching his opponents' footwork to close them out early, denying entry and finishing them with a pokecheck, usually followed by a hit. He's a reliable defender who takes away the middle from attackers, and plays heavy along the boards, but will also pin his adversaries in place, thus removing them from the play. With an active, well-timed stick, he breaks up plays, intercepts passes, and clogs lanes. He identifies threats early, and can anticipate and read defensive situations quickly to rack up takeaways. One of his specialties is his excellence in making calm, composed breakouts while shaking off layers of pressure in retrievals with cutbacks, delays to draw attention, deception, and 1-on-1 skill. His stretch-passes can be a mixed bag, but he usually makes a secure first-pass to kickstart the breakout- and makes the whole process look easy. Another specialty of his is his puck-moving ability through transition; he supports his team's attack and moves the puck quickly with short passes for controlled entries- though he is usually last to enter the zone.

Hallquisth walks the line effectively in the offensive zone, but he's more of a facilitator than a true creator- he needs to take more calculated risks, and maybe join the rush more often. He distributes well with smart, skilled passes, and will activate in on the weak side for chances, or pinch down to extend offensive zone time by keeping pucks alive. He will also jump in to the play to prevent the breakout with a hit. He flashes some vision, has good hockey sense, and can play some powerplay minutes as well. His shot is reasonably hard and heavy, but is more of a playmaking tool to create chances for his teammates- he has to get it on net with more frequency, though. Obviously, his greatest need is to increase his size and strength drastically, but he also needs to get a bit faster. Not sure what the ceiling is here, but he has the ingredients to play in an NHL bottom-six if he develops properly. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.