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Wings Draft: Three (More) Prospects for Detroit in the Second round

By Alex Faber

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: Signage is seen on location prior to the start of the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: Signage is seen on location prior to the start of the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Anton Olsson – LHD

Sweden’s forward Mario Kempe celebrates with team mates scoring the 3-1 vie during the IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships preliminary round group A match between Sweden and Great Britain, at the Olympic Sports Center in Riga, on May 28, 2021. (Photo by Gints IVUSKANS / AFP) (Photo by GINTS IVUSKANS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sweden’s forward Mario Kempe celebrates with team mates scoring the 3-1 vie during the IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships preliminary round group A match between Sweden and Great Britain, at the Olympic Sports Center in Riga, on May 28, 2021. (Photo by Gints IVUSKANS / AFP) (Photo by GINTS IVUSKANS/AFP via Getty Images) /

What good is a Detroit prospect piece without mentioning a Swede?

Olsson is going pretty under-the-radar for a player that spent a majority of his season in the SHL. An empty scoresheet certainly has something to do with it; Olsson’s only points in 39 games this season were four assists (Although he did nab three additional assists with Sweden in the U18 World Tournament).

However, points are not a good reflection of the type of defenseman Olsson is. He can’t run a power play, he can’t run an offense and he doesn’t have a great raw toolkit. That’s not to say he’s incompetent offensively; his great vision of the ice provides for some smooth and snappy passes to keep the offense chugging along.

But his defense is fantastic. He’s mobile, very intelligent, can read the ice beyond his years and just has all the fundamentals down. Some might say his ceiling is relatively low, as a defense-first defenseman that plays a well-rounded game isn’t the flashy style that attracts attention from the rest of the league. I would argue that his ceiling is actually quite high for a player of his archetype; to show this sort of poise and maturity in one of the best leagues outside of the NHL is quite impressive. Olsson is the perfect player to instantly strengthen a team’s overall defense. Pair him with a more risky or flashy defenseman and you have a dangerous duo.

Related Story. Three Potential Targets for Detroit in the Second round. light

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