The Draft Board: Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi
by PPP on Jun 4, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
in Question of the Day
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In preparation for the NHL Draft, we're going to run down the top 15 players as ranked by the ISS and have our users vote for how good they think each player iwill become to help us prepare our draft board. We're starting to get some good momentum so up next is the ISS #4, Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi.
Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi is the best of both worlds. The skill of the Swedes with the drinking ability of the Finns thanks to his grandparents. He became Sweden's version of Crosby, Bouwmeester, Lindros, and Spezza when he represented the country at the 2008 World Hockey Championships. He made even more waves a year later during the tournament in Ottawa when he predicted that if the Swedes got two quick goals that Canada would be in trouble. As you can imagine, it became kind of a big deal and he tried to mend some fences:
"It is not impossible to beat them," Paajarvi explained. "If we face them in the final again, we will beat them."
Well, that turned out as well as most predictions from Swedes. At least we know what'll go on his Hockey-Reference page if he ends up playing for a rival. Like his countryman Victor Hedman, MSP has been playing with men for the past two years so his numbers look a bit depressed. He actually has another year left at his club which, if you are looking for good omens (and I just realized that Steve used the same awesome picture), also developed Henrik Zetterberg:
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| Timrå IK |
85 |
8 |
12 |
20 |
6 |
He's done a lot better when playing with his peers. He put up 12 points in 6 games in the previous U18 Championships after getting 7 points in 6 games in Ottawa. His game certainly seems to fit a need that the Leafs have in the forward ranks:
An Extremely fast and fluid skater, and quite possibly the second best player in the 2009 draft. Many comparisons between Magnus and many of the other great Swedes like Forsberg and Sundin who's numbers were comparable at the time. More fairly a comparison between Naslund and Svensson-Paajarvi is a more precise pairing, as his defensive game is not anywhere near the quality of his offensive game. Although he's got a great physical makeup, his style of play ie away from the physical stuff. Aside from that he's a tremendous playmaker and stout goalscorer, putting in quite a few goals, and is adept on the breakaway. He's a guaranteed top 10 pick and may play himself into a top 5 selection.
So PPPers how good of a NHLer do you think Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi will become? Weigh in on our poll and then defend yourselves in the comments.
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If he’s another Sundin or Forsberg, look out.
But I’d rather have Braydon, please.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jun 4, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions
Schenn 2.0 + Cowen
no, I am not going to stop
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 4, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
hehehe… if we can get another 1st rounder and Cowen drops….. yes please!
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jun 4, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
i vote franchise
mainly because he appears to have some great hockey hair.
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions
Look at all those umlauts!
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
he's missing some.
I googled umlauts and came up with this…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
There are few things greater in this world than that magnificent collection of umlautitude
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Jun 4, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
All I want
is more picks, not trading picks to move up. I really feel that whoever we get at 7 (be it Cowen or MSP if this is a 5 person draft) will be just as good a pick. Quantity people, especially since I don’t feel there’s a drop-off in quality.
Here’s my hesitance to draft MSP. Sure the kid has some great moves but according to THN he “lacks finishing”. Could this come with time? Maybe. Is it a worthwhile risk? At 7 okay but if we move up I wouldn’t take it. The fact that he hasn’t put up big numbers in the Swedish Elite league when “playing against men” also means he won’t be able to come in right away and play against the men of the NHL. I see him as a second liner.
A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.
The fact that he hasn’t put up big numbers in the Swedish Elite league when "playing against men" also means he won’t be able to come in right away and play against the men of the NHL. I see him as a second liner.
That’s exactly what I thought after reading it, and my pick as well.
Wings fan by birth. Leafs fan by empathetic association.
He’s 18. He’s not fully developed.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
thats what she said
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 4, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
my dislike
seems to stem from him reminding me of Alfredsson……
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jun 4, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions
He reminds me of Gaz Coombes from Supergrass
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
nah...
He’s alright
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
ahhhh!!!
I LOVE IT!!!!!
well, if he gets drafted, there’s his goal scoring music right there…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Is he as tough as Alfredsson?
A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.
The draft board so far:
1. John Tavares 4.25
2. Matt Duchene 3.98
3. Victor Hedman 3.91
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Ok
You’re tracking that? Great to hear :) Don’t forget to close the polls when you tabulate things.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jun 4, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
The skill of the Swedes with the drinking ability of the Finns
I wanna move…. also, that name will be killer in nhl
Kom och lek en sommarlek
Bob Cole is already having night sweats thinking about it.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jun 4, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Bob Cole will undoubtably call him, “the Leafs player”
Bitter Leaf Fan: a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...
I tried to customize a Leafs jersey with his name
It wouldn’t fit. They shortened it to : SvenssonPj
A Nation of Masochists a blog dedicated to Toronto sports fans, who are continually punished but keep coming back for more.
Good Question
What will they put on the jersey? Just Paajarvi? Or with umlauts?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Jun 4, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
what was on his World Jrs? Wasn’t is his full name?
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Jun 4, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
how WIDE is he…?
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I hear, this guy sounds like money. I’d be thrilled if the Leafs got him, assuming they have to stick at #7.
For some reason he doesn’t seem to come up much when the media writes about the Leafs. They talk about a big five (Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, Kane and Schenn) and then say something like "but the Leafs don’t pick until #7, so they’ll get somebody like Nazem Kadri ". What about MSP? Is he this year’s Filatov (i.e. automatically going #6 no matter what?)
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
probably because they assume Burke is going after a north american prospect, because no matter what is said, the rumour of him not liking euros wont seem to die
Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option
by JaredFromLondon on Jun 4, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
From what I hear, this guy sounds like money. I’d be thrilled if the Leafs got him, assuming they have to stick at #7.
Agreed.
Though really I can see Phoenix taking Cowen at #6, since they have more of a need for a big D prospect than someone like MSP.
if we see Phoenix at all…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
you mean, besides the bankruptcy and questions of ownership?
not much, business as usual…
"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
The Left Coast Lock
by blurr1974 on Jun 4, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I take it by the lack of comments, we don’t care for this one very much…
(843): the red head has a bf
(1-843): just because there's a goalie doesn't mean u can't score
by Wrap Around Curl on Jun 4, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions
MSP, seems like a first liner at best. maybe a zetterberg type second liner
Mee-Mee-Meep Meep Go Leafs Go Meep Meep! MEEP!!!
by blindfolded tank driver on Jun 4, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions
I’ve been a Magnus fan, probably the biggest on this board, so my thoughts are this about MPS. The fact that Magnus is holding his own against men shows me his development is on par with prospects developing in the AHL. I don’t quite understand the hesitance about him not dominating against peers 10 years older than him. First off, MPS doesn’t get big minutes in the SEL just like any other young player that makes it to the elite leagues in Sweden, Russia, Finland, etc. If he routinely gets 11-13 minutes a night, it’s not surprising he’s not racking up points. As comparison of MPS’ 17 points as a 17 year old, Malkin only got 12 points of the same age in the old RSL. Ovechkin 23 points. Markus Naslund and Peter Forsberg scored 19 and 17 points respectively (albeit, in much less games, but ice time is not available so I can’t be sure if they both also played only 10 minutes like MPS). One common thread amongst all these players is that they exploded at age 18 – an age Magnus hasn’t reached yet.
Secondly, all junior players face off against teenagers whether it be in the OHL, WHL, QMJHL, NCAA, etc., yet we automatically assume Duchene, Kane, Schenn, etc. are going to become franchise players in the NHL and are shoo-ins for next season? That doesn’t make sense to me. All junior players have the same risk in struggling against NHL players in the future, and frankly, an underage player holding his own in a men’s league and not a junior league should be a plus.
How did MPS do against similar aged peers, since the biggest issue with Magnus is how he’s not taking over SEL by storm? With the Timra Juniors, Magnus put up 22 points in 18 games before being promoted to the Timra senior team for good. In the most recent WJC U18, MPS scored 12 points in 6 games. In the preeminent WJC of this past year, Magnus scored 7 points in 6 games to lead all Swedish forwards. When Magnus made his debut to the SEL, he was the fourth youngest player ever to do that,
Does he not come without risk? No, and even I have to admit, Magnus is the riskiest amongst the proverbial top 5 (Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, Kane). But Magnus also offers significant upside. To hear players like Kadri, Glennie, and even everyone’s favourite Brayden Schenn as great prospects is more than fine. I just feel Magnus is better than that group and much closer, if not almost on par, to the elite three (Tavares, Hedman, Duchene).
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
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