• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Quite a few Swedish games on Wednesday, as well as a smattering of
major-junior action. The big story was projected No. 1 pick Rasmus Dahlin's
Swedish junior (U20) debut. Dahlin has been playing against men in the SHL so far
this season, but on Wednesday they let him loose against kids his own age.
And, of course, he delivered in style. This guy is a generational talent who
should be picked first overall in June, unless he suffers a career-ending
injury this season. Even then, he still might be worth drafting in later
rounds. He is that rare of a
gem.
We'll hold the listing to only five players again -- a nice mix of two Swedes, one Russian, one Swiss, and a Canadian:
RASMUS DAHLIN -- No, he hasn't been putting up the points in the SHL, but Dahlin is still only 17 years old, and the real test for him involves going against players his own age. Given that chance with a game in the Under-20 league, the prodigy defenseman passed his test with flying colors. Dahlin had a goal, an assist, four shots, and a plus-1 rating in Gothenburg's 4-3 shootout win over Jonkoping. He assisted on a goal that tied the game 1-1 in the first period, and then scored the game-tying goal to force overtime at 17:39 of the third. Wow.
NOAH DOBSON -- Dobson, a QMJHL defenseman who is a possible first- or second round pick next year, recorded two first-period assists for Bathurst in the Titan's 5-3 win over Halifax and was named the game's No. 2 star. He had an assist at 11:42 to tie the game at 1-1, and he added another at 18:51. Dobson now has a three-game assist streak, with five assists over the span.
LINUS GIDBARK -- A Swedish goalie who hasn't drawn all that much attention so far, Gidbark is quietly establishing himself as a force for Malmo's U20 tea. On Wednesday, he posted his first shutout of the season and the first of his U20 career by making 26 saves to beat Angelholm 3-0. He is now 2-2 on the season with only seven goals allowed in his four starts.
YURY PLATONOV -- The Russian MHL is full of players who might be more tempting to scouts if they didn't have the possibility of KHL careers hanging over their heads. One such player is Magnitogorsk's Yuri Platonov, who is off to a fast start. Platonov scored twice in his team's 6-4 win over Nizhnekamsk on Wednesday. His first goal made it 2-0 at 7:18 of the opening perio, and he closed out the scoring later in the game. He now has four goals in nine MHL games.
SANDRO SCHMID -- There aren't too many Swiss players opting to leave their country and play junior in Sweden, but Schmid is one of them. Coming off a solid performance at the Hlinka tournament in August, Schmid is making his mark in 2017-18. On Wednesday, he scored a goal, had an assist, and was plus-2 in Malmo's shutout of Angelholm. Schmid's game-winner came at 14:47 of the first period. It was his second U20 goal of the season. In his lone U18 game earlier this season, he had a hat trick on three shots.