Carl Grundstrom may not have been the most prolific scorer to be selected during the 2016 NHL Draft, but his overall game, commitment, and experience at the professional level has turned a lot of heads.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Grundstrom to an entry-level deal on Friday. Here’s what you need to know about the promising Swedish prospect.
Drafted: Second round (57th overall) in 2016 by Toronto
2016-17 team: Frölunda HC (SHL)
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 194 pounds
From: Umea, Sweden
Twitter: @CarlGrundstrom
Here’s what he did last season…
He tied for the team lead with 14 goals and a career high 20 points in 45 games in his first year with Frölunda. Those numbers don’t jump off the page but scoring 14 goals as an 18-year-old in a defensive league like the SHL shouldn’t be dismissed.
He has an impressive international resume…
Grundstrom has been a mainstay for the international team, most recently sporting the Tres Kronor jersey of Team Sweden during the 2017 world juniors. After registering just one assist in seven games at last year’s tournament, Grundstrom amassed an impressive three goals and four assists to total seven points in seven games and had great chemistry with Joel Eriksson Ek and Alexander Nylander.
He’s tenacious…
Grundstrom scores goals off his strong play without the puck. He’s an imposing, well-positioned player who is “a spirited and energetic, banging winger,” according to thedraftanalyst.com.
In the year leading up to the draft, Futureconsiderations.com classified Grundstrom as “a goal-scoring forward who likes to get plenty of shots on net.”
They added that Grundstrom “possesses good speed, a solid build, and gets himself in the greasy areas looking for chances.”
He must have a soft spot for Patrik Stefan…
Grundstrom had this epic gaffe early in his career with Frölunda.
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