Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the complete draft board after the completion of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
With the 28th Selection in the First round of the 2015 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning will select Gabriel Carlsson, Defenseman from Linkopings HC of the Swedish Elite League.
Continuing the trend from last years draft when the team selected defenseman Anthony DeAngelo in the first round, the team will again bolster the blue line by selecting Gabriel Carlsson. Carlsson, a 6’4 184 lb defenseman from Orebro, Sweden has all the tools to one day be a top pair defenseman in the NHL.
Lets start with his ability to read the play in the defensive zone. Gifted with excellent vision and instincts, Carlsson will rarely make a mistake when it comes to playing the puck; however, when he does make an untimely error you see from the tape that his excellent compete level will take over and he will win the puck back from the defender.
He also doesn’t let his mistakes get to him and will come back out on the next shift leaving the error behind him. That is something that you like to see in a young defenseman.
Carlsson is also gifted with an booming shot from the point that can be lethal in the offensive zone. He also has the ability to move the puck up to his forwards.
Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb said this about Carlsson:
"“Carlsson is a tall, physically strong two-way defenseman who has improved a lot during the season. He plays a smart, cool, mature game and uses his size without being overly aggressive. A smart player who can both pass or play the puck out of danger.”"
The 17 year old will probably need a good two or three more seasons before he makes an impact in the NHL, but when the time comes, Carlsson could one day replace fellow Swede Anton Stralman as Victor Hedman‘s defense partner.
Next: Second Round: Filip Chlapik
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