WJC - Sweden Vs Canada

When it comes to draft eligibles, this was billed as Adam Larsson vs Sean Couturier, even though it was an exhibition game. But let's not forget Gabriel Landeskog of the Kitchener Rangers and Rickard Rackell of the Plymouth Whalers were also in this game.

The two teams had over a dozen combined power plays through the game and only Canada was able to convert on one, a 5 on 3 advantage. If either of the two teams want to compete with the favored Americans, they will have to improve their power plays.

As for the players, Couturier had a quiet game and maybe he was slowed by playing on consecutive nights. Defensively he was his usual self but the Swedes kept him in check offensively. He worked himself to the front of the net in the offensive zone and was his usual force in front of the net, hard to move, hard do contain.

Larsson was hard to notice in the first period, if not for a couple of giveaways with a very noticeable one at the end of the period where he had to take a penalty to recover. They continued through the second and the third as well. Obviously, a lot of the Swedes were suffering jet lag, but Larsson himself has had nagging injuries all season that have prevented him from having the same offensive out put as last season. You have to wonder how much that is affecting his game.

The Air Canada Center in Toronto was full of scouts and general managers and between periods Bob McKenzie talked about Adam Larsson and Gabriel Landeskog as "two players going in opposite directions" referring to Landeskog climbing the rankings and Larsson dropping.

Landeskog himself didn't have any travelling to do. He didn't play the night before, so he was rested. What you see from him in the OHL is what you saw in this game. Grit, a strong back check and fore check, great skating and puck handling and creating offensive chances.

Of the three potential top four picks Landeskog stood out the most on this night. But it is what it is, an exhibition game. And if he can carry it through the tournament and his team mate continues his struggles he could seriously contend to be a top 2 or even top pick.

Rackell too had a quiet game. A potential second round pick could vault himself into the late first round with a strong tournament. A point per game player for the Whalers in the OHL, he'll be counted on to provide some offense for Sweden. But it didn't happen on this night.

It's a short tournament and there is no room for error. Not for the countries involved or for the players looking to solidify their positions to play in the NHL.

We are still over 6 months away from the NHL draft, but this could be the tournament where we can see some separation, or at least a consensus on where the players belong in the rankings.

For highlights and analysis of the game, visit tsn.ca

To view the game in its entirety visit watch.tsn.ca

Scouts already love Sweden's Larsson

Many scouts believe that Sweden's Adam Larsson could be playing in the NHL right now.

Though that might seem a bit premature, particularly since the 6-foot-3, 200-pound defenseman won't turn 18 until Nov. 12, but it wouldn't be too surprising if Larsson were taken with one of the first picks at the 2011 Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn., on June 24.

Larsson is front and center on the Central Scouting's international "Players to Watch" list released Tuesday.

"He's a complete package," NHL Central Scouting Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb told NHL.com. "Now in his second season as a regular in one of the top senior leagues in Europe, he's going to play a big role."

Larsson is the third-youngest player ever to enter the Swedish Elite League -- at age 16, with Skelleftea during the 2008-09 season -- after Calle Johansson and Victor Hedman. In 49 games last season, he had 4 goals and 17 points with Skelleftea, in addition to helping his country to a bronze medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship.

You can read the full story at nhl.com. Also available from there are links to the European players to watch and the North American players to watch from Central Scouting, in pdf format.

Larsson vs Musil vs Murphy

Never being one to shy away from controversy, or calling it as I see it, here’s my take on the top 3 (in my opinion) defensemen in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Now, I don’t get to see Larsson or Musil play live, and I’m not a big believer in TV showing everything there is to know about a player, so I am relying on scouting reports on the two that I trust very much.

Adam Larsson – Many believe Larsson will be the best hockey player ever from Sweden. When you consider some of the names to come over from Sweden, does anything else really need to be said?

The advantage Larsson has over Murphy and Musil is that he has two years under his belt playing against top competition in the SEL. Not only did he play, he succeeded. At 6’3” 220 pounds he has size; he is mobile and uses his big frame extremely well to defend. He plays calm in his own zone allowing him to help move his team out of the defensive zone with composure. His stick is active and he is positionally strong under pressure.

Offensively, Larsson has an extremely hard and accurate shot. He is an excellent puck handler and playmaker and makes perfect tape to tape passes. He gets compared to fellow countryman Viktor Hedman. While he doesn’t have Hedman’s size, and is not as physical, offensively he is ahead of where Hedman was and has higher offensive potential.

Ask someone to name a fault in his game and you will get a pause while they think of one. If they had to pick something, it would be his skating speed; both take off speed and overall speed. The other is having not played in North America like Musil or Murphy.

David Musil – Many believe that if anyone is to unsead Larsson as the top defenseman in the 2011 NHL entry draft, it will be David Musil. Like Larsson, Musil brings good size at 6’3” and 200 pounds. He also has the bloodlines with father Frank Musil and Uncle Bobby Holik both having played in the NHL.

 He has a very good work ethic and wants to learn to become the best player he can be and is willing to work at it to become one. He handles the puck with poise. He has excellent vision and makes crisp, clean, accurate passes. He already plays like a seasoned veteran when used in a shut down roll. He has an active stick and is physical and also not afraid to drop the gloves.

Offensively, he had good numbers last season. Some believe for him to be successful offensively in the NHL he will have to learn to take more chances and when to take them. He doesn’t have the offensive potential of Larsson or Murphy, but he isn’t lacking in that department.

Ryan Murphy – I’ve followed Murphy a lot over the past couple of years, but I’ll try and be objective here. Of the three, Murphy is the most gifted offensively. His skating, speed, puck handling and playmaking abilities also have to rank on top. There are those that quietly compare his end to end rushes to Bobby Orr. I’ve been on record many times as saying I would never compare anyone to the greatest player to play the game, but I will not hesitate one bit in comparing all of the above to Paul Coffey. He has a deceivingly accurate and lethal snap shot but won’t break any records with his slap shot.

If there is a knock on Murphy it is his 5’11” 175 pound size. He worked hard to add some bulk this offseason and added 15 pounds. The other knock is in his defensive game. But he anticipates the play so well that he is able to pick off passes almost at will. The Kitchener Rangers also started using him in a penalty kill role last season. Murphy also has the best hip check I’ve seen in hockey in 20 years.

So, in a nutshell, Larsson and Musil bring an excellent over all game. But Murphy gets the nod hands down offensively. Ranking them right now, I would go with Larsson, Musil and Murphy. But I’ve said for months now that I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if by draft time Murphy is challenging for that top defenseman spot, especially if he can add some more bulk.

I also have to add a note here. In my survey of OHL general managers which you can find earlier in this blog, Ryan Murphy was picked as the 3^rd defenseman to go in the NHL draft from the OHL behind Scott Harrington and Dougie Hamilton.