Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 21):
RD Linus Funck (6'3",183lbs)
Lulea (J20): 37gp/ 4g/ 14a/ 18pts, -6, 53 PIM
Linus Funck (ranked #34 for EU Skaters) is a big, two-way, puck-moving defenseman, who is currently 22nd in scoring for blueliners in the J20 league, or 6th in scoring for defensemen under-18. His puck-moving ability might be his greatest asset- from his outlets, to his distribution through transition. He performs sound first-passes out of the zone, and can stretch the ice on occasion with some long-bombs. Funck uses an arsenal of feints and other deception to elude forecheckers in retrievals while pre-scanning for options, and remains calm and poised throughout the process. He is a part of helping his teammates complete clean exits and entries by connecting plays through the neutral zone.
Mobility is an issue with Funck unfortunately, and his below-average 4-directional speed pervades many areas of his game; his stride is rather short and choppy, and his pace is deficient. Despite this, he handles well, and his puck-control doesn't seem to be an issue- he even displays some nifty 1-on-1 skill. With his team installed in the offensive zone, he walks the line with intelligence and decent passing-skill to execute crisp, accurate feeds to high-danger; he has a modicum of vision and hockey sense, and can spot seams through traffic, but he's not a dynamic play-creator. He owns a hard and heavy shot from the point that he gets on net fairly consistently, not only to test the goalie, but to create havok around the net, and to create chances for teammates. Though he doesn't try to do anything too dramatic, and he's not really flashy, he is a good enough offensive player to get PP minutes. Defensively, Funck exhibits solid positioning, a wide wingspan with an active stick, and enormous range to be a reliable presence on the backcheck. He gaps up early to kill oncoming rushes in the neutral zone, and wields sound awareness to break up plays on the cycle. Obviously, he has a sizeable frame, but he has the strength to match as well, and he's not at all afraid to use either to separate man from puck; 53 penalty-minutes in 37 games shows he's not Mr. Nice Guy in the process.
Funck has not yet had the opportunity to experience playing in one of Lulea's men's league teams, which can sometimes be telling, but his teammate Oliwer Sjostrom hasn't had any call-ups yet, either. There are small issues that need to be eradicated from his game, but they are the same issues that many young defensemen have- he can be caught coasting in the defensive zone at times while puck-watching, he can be pressured into mistakes, and he needs to add significant size and strength for the pros. Those are small issues however, when compared to his biggest deficiency- his mobility and pace, or lack thereof. He has plenty of work to do in this area, as he won't be able to keep up in the higher levels. Look for him in the 4th, or 5th round.
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