A Winning Habit
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Ranking Montreal Canadiens Top 10 Prospects

By Ken MacMillan

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Cole Caufield, 15th overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Cole Caufield, 15th overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – MAY 30: Mattias Norlinder poses for a headshot at the NHL Scouting Combine on May 30, 2019 at Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Number 9

Player: Mattias Norlinder

Position: Left Defenceman

Acquired: 2019 NHL Draft, 3rd round, 64th overall

Projected 2019-20 team: Modo Hockey Club, Allsvenskan

NHL ETA: 2022-23

Potential Role: Second pairing defenceman

Why he is ranked #9:

Norlinder is a prospect that slipped a bit in the North American draft rankings but was very highly regarded by scouts in his home country of Sweden. He is a left shooting defenceman known more for his offence than his defensive ability.

Norlinder is a smooth skater that can carry the puck, make outlet passes and buy time for forwards to get open up ice before he fires a breakout pass. He was promoted to Modo’s top pro team last season, and scored six points in 14 game.

Modo was once a powerhouse, producing top Swedish players like Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Alex Steen, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. However, they were actually relegated from the top Swedish league a couple years ago so Norlinder will be playing in Allsvenskan which is the second best pro league in Sweden. The skill level is a step down from the Swedish Hockey League but it’s not as big of a leap as you might think.

Norlinder will be playing against professional competition in a highly skilled league. He has already shown he can produce a little offence at that level, even as a teenager.

Unfortunately, Norlinder fractured his hand so we did not get to see him at the Habs recent development camp. He was invited to the World Junior Summer Showcase which is a development camp for the World Junior Championships. However, he may not be able to join Sweden at that event either due to his injury.

Norlinder will play another season in Sweden this upcoming year. He will still need either more seasoning with Modo or some time with the Laval Rocket before he is NHL ready. He has decent size but it just takes time to get used to playing the North American style of game.

Scouts in Sweden couldn’t believe he fell to the third round of the NHL Draft. Luckily the Habs were the team that scooped him up.

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