Montreal Canadiens Prospect Profile: Lukas Vejdemo

AWH PROSPECT PROFILE: LUKAS VEJDEMO

Welcome to a new focus that AWH will be taking on from now on, AWH Prospect Profiles. Within these articles, we will dig out as much data and knowledge as possible to bring you as much information as a fan can get about franchise prospects. Hopefully you enjoy reading these as much as we enjoy putting them together!

LUKAS VEJDEMO

Born: 25th of January, 1996 (19 years old) in Stockholm, Sweden
Height/Weight: 6’2″ /195 lbs
Shoots: Left
Selected: 87th overall in the 2015 draft
Twitter account: @vejde96
Twitter handle: “
Played for: Djurgårdens (all levels)
Wearing #44
Player comparison: Henrik Zetterberg

STATS

Available at Elite Prospects here.
2014-15: 34 GP, 23 G, 25 A, 48 PTS, 51 PIM, +28, Playoffs: 7 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 PTS, 4 PIM, +4
2015-16: 10 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 6 PIM, -1

INTERESTING FACTS

Received his biggest awards yet in 2014-15 when he earned the following: J20 SM Gold Medal J20 SuperElit (Overall) Best Plus/Minus (+28) J20 SuperElit Playoffs MVP
Was ranked as high as 37th by NHL Central Scouting for European skaters, and as low as 185th by Future Considerations
Vejdemo was overlooked in the 2014 draft because he missed most of the previous season because of broken ribs and a bout of mononucleosis
He decided to not attend the draft in Florida because he said it would have taken a week out of his training, something he wasn’t willing to forego
Trevor Timmins on Vejdemo after selecting him: “Vejdemo! Anybody know anything about him? You guys tell me about him. Nobody knows much, do they? That’s good. That’s why we got him when we got him!”“[Vejdemo] is smart, good vision, strong skater, puck possession, and he has strong character. He’s a good kid. We were very excited to get him,”
An essential article to read more about Vejdemo, including an interview (below) and quotes from his coach, is available here from AllHabs

The interview:

Vejdemo tweeted the following after being drafted by the Habs this year:

Great to be a part of the @CanadiensMTL organization. Couldn't wish for a better team and hockey town! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/1BQG1gEzbQ
— Lukas vejdemo (@vejde96) June 27, 2015

ANALYSIS

As with most young players, there are things Lukas Vejdemo needs to work on in order to make it to the NHL and to develop his talent in its entirety. But from what I’ve read and heard about him, he’s the type of player that you expect will put in the required work and listen to the right people in order to make that happen. There’s a certain maturity and humbleness in his actions and words that speak to his character.

There are some who gravitate to the most famous players when comparing young players to NHL players. In Vejdemo’s case, since he’s Swedish, he’s been tied to Henrik Zetterberg. In fact, if we look back at Zetterberg’s stats in Sweden at the same age, Vejdemo is actually outdoing him:

Zetterberg (19) for Timra (Allsvenskan) 42 GP, 20 G, 14 A, 34 PTS, 20 PIM, +26
Vejdemo (18) for Djurgårdens (SuperElit) 34 GP, 23 G, 25 A, 48 PTS, 51 PIM, +28

Just as Timmins noted that Vejdemo was overlooked by many teams, Zetterberg lasted until the 7th rd of his draft before the Red Wings selected him 210th overall. Both are noted as being able to play wing or centre, and both are praised for their ability to play well at both ends of the rink. And if that’s not enough, both were picked apart for the same reasons before the draft: skating ability, lack finishing ability, and not being a natural goal scorer. Well, Zetterberg has been alright, so I’m sure we can hold out hope for Lukas Vejdemo as well.

When you’re able to earn MVP honours in a men’s league at 18 years old, you’re well above the competition. The ingredients that I believe will make him a special player in the NHL are his defensive ability, his work ethic, and his leadership skills. As a well-sized player, he’ll provide the Habs with size and strength, and although some like to question his offensive abilities, I actually believe he’s better than they think. It can’t hurt at all that he’s willing to rough it up in the corners and in front of the net, something that should at the very least allow him to reach the 20 goal mark early on in his career.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The best sleeper in the Habs system, bar none, Lukas Vejdemo will soon become a household name in the minds of Montreal Canadiens fans. Along with Mike McCarron, he gives the Canadiens hope for size and strength up-the-middle and should have no problem making an appearance in Montreal by 2018. The most telling step for him will be his performance when he makes the leap over to North America, but we’ll get our first really good look at him this winter during the IIHF World Junior Championships. Vejdemo will have a big role on the Swedish team and it should allow us to measure exactly where he stands amongst the competition.

If he can get anywhere near Henrik Zetterberg’s 840 GP and 794 Points, not to mention his Stanley Cup wins, Habs fans will be treated to years of success in Montreal. For now, we’ll just hope that he can develop well and make a successful jump to North America within the next two years.

Welcome to the Montreal Canadiens family Lukas. We hope to see you soon in St-John’s and eventually in Montreal.

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