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Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the crowd during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017, in Chicago.
During the weeks leading up to the NHL Entry Draft, we’re taking a look at players who might be selected by the Montreal Canadiens. The team has five selections in the first two rounds, including the No. 3 overall pick. Check back daily from Thursday to Monday up until the draft on June 22-23 in Dallas, and weigh in on their potential in the comments section below.
David Gustafsson, centre
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 194 pounds
NHL Central Scouting Rank: No. 24 among European skaters
What the scouts are saying: Gustafsson’s stock has risen over the past year. He is regarded as a reliable two-way centre whose offensive skills are still developing. He played for HV71 in the second-tier Swedish Hockey League and scored six goals and six assists in 45 games while playing about 11 minutes a game. He moved up to the Super-Elit league late in the season and he had a goal and four assists in four games and then scored two goals and three assists in five playoff games. He was able to compete against men because he’s physically mature and is responsible in his own end. He has good balance and lower-body strength which allows him to protect the puck. He can make more use of his wrist shot and his quick reflexes are an asset when he’s hanging around the net looking for rebounds. He makes smart plays but is not particularly creative.
Why the Canadiens would be interested: Gustafsson could be a good pick in the third or fourth round. He’s a natural centre who’s is strong in the faceoff circle and he understands that the position carries some defensive responsibilities. He’s projected as a second- or third-line centre in the NHL who can serve as a penalty-killer and be employed in key defensive-zone faceoff situations. He plays a straight-forward, no-risk style which fits with the Canadiens’ system but the question is whether he’s more Jacob de la Rose than Tomas Plekanec
International flavour: Gustafsson was the last cut of the Swedish junior team but be helped Sweden win bronze medals at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament and the 2018 world under-18 championships. He took the most faceoffs of any player at the world championships and won more than 70 per cent of them.
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