| STORIES |
- Friday, July 3, 2009: Almqvist has a sense of wonder
- Monday, October 5, 2009: Almqvist ripping it up
- Tuesday, November 24, 2009: Samuelsson ‘better shape up’
- Tuesday, December 15, 2009: Almqvist waits for world stage
- Tuesday, April 13, 2010: Ehrhardt eases into the pros
- Tuesday, May 25, 2010: Johnston achieves rare feat
- Wednesday, November 17, 2010: Failure to launch
- Tuesday, April 12, 2011: Red Wings still want Almqvist to ‘hit the gym’
- Tuesday, January 31, 2012: Defense plus, opportunity minus for Almqvist
|
| AWARDS |
- 2010-11 Swedish Elite League top plus-minus (plus-20)
|
| HISTORY |
2008-09
- Posted terrific numbers with HV-71 of Swedish J-20 circuit (41-8-28-36).
- Finished second among all J-20 defensemen in scoring.
- Fired 66 shots on goal and had a plus-22 rating.
- Struggled at pre- and mid-season tournaments with Sweden’s under-18 team.
- Did not crack Sweden’s roster for world under-18 championship as a result.
|
2009-10
- Started season with HV-71 in Swedish J-20 SuperElit League and dominated.
- Despite being a blueliner, led all J-20 players in scoring through 15 games (15-5-29-34).
- Left off Swedish team for IIHF world junior championship because of lack of size, strength.
- Represented Sweden at world junior A challenge (4-2-0-2) in November.
- Earned a call-up to HV-71′s Swedish Elite League team in late December.
- Stayed in SEL for rest of season and made a big impression (28-2-6-8, plus-11, 30 shots).
- Shined in playoffs, tying for league lead in defense scoring (16-1-10-11) en route to championship.
- Also finished as the top-scoring junior in the post-season, a point ahead of Marcus Kruger.
|
2010-11
- Returned to HV-71 and played a top-three role as a 19-year-old Swedish Elite League sophomore.
- Logged an average of 19:47 of ice time per game and finished with a league-best plus-20.
- Didn’t score any goals and produced less offensively than expected (52-0-16-16, 62 shots).
- Surprisingly left off Sweden’s WJC team at mid-season for second straight season.
- Signed by the Red Wings in late May to a three-year entry-level contract.
|
2011-12
- Returned to HV-71 for third full Swedish Elite League season (42-3-8-11, 66 shots, 13 hits).
- Plus-16 rating led HV-71 and tied Almqvist for seventh in the SEL.
- Finished fifth among HV-71 defensemen in ice time with an average of 19:26 per game.
- Missed half of HV-71′s first round with illness before playoff exit (3-0-1-1-4, plus-3, two shots).
- Joined Grand Rapids and made AHL debut in late March (3-0-0-0, minus-1, one shot).
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| SCOUT COMMENTS |
|
“If it all came down to hockey sense, he probably would have been a first-round pick. The hockey sense is something else. It’s as good as I’ve seen in many years … On the offensive blue line he can really control the power play. He’s calm with the puck and he has a very good first pass out of his zone. When forwards find open ice, the puck is on the tape.” — Red Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson (June 2009) … “We know he’s got to get stronger, but you’re rolling the dice on his hockey sense. You hope he turns into the type of player like (Tobias) Enstrom in Atlanta.” — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2009) … “It’s all about strength for him. He’s so weak. He gets pushed off the puck, and around the net, he has a tough time.” — Andersson (December 2009) … “He’s really good with his stick. As good as he is passing the puck and everything, he also breaks up plays really well with his stick. One-on-one, he’s really effective with poke-checking the puck, which makes up a bit for his lack of strength. If he wants to get to the next level after this, without a doubt, he needs to hit the gym this summer, and the next couple of summers.” — Andersson (May 2011).
|
| STRENGTHS |
|
Off-the-charts hockey sense, which Hakan Andersson calls “as good as I’ve seen in years” … Blessed with natural hockey gifts starting with a sensational mind and the hands to match it … Outstanding on the power play, with a hard point shot and terrific vision … Makes crisp, fast, tape-to-tape breakout passes and leads the breakout … Makes smart decisions … Not afraid to take a hit.
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| WEAKNESSES |
|
Takes the phrase “small and slight” to a whole new level and needs serious time in the weight room … Average skater who needs to pick it up, something that should come along with added leg strength … Can be overwhelmed defensively, but it may just be a product of his small stature … Needs to do a better job avoiding big hits, as he can get punished by a tenacious forecheck.
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| PROJECTION |
|
If Almqvist gets his weight closer to 190 pounds and continues to develop, the Red Wings could suddenly have a talented power-play quarterback with a similar skillset — in both strengths and weaknesses — to Brian Rafalski. Perhaps unfairly buried on a deep Swedish Elite League squad in 2011-12, the Red Wings are eager to see what Almqvist can do in the AHL with Grand Rapids in 2012-13.
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Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
| 2006-2007 |
HV71 J18 |
J18 Allsvenskan |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
Playoffs |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
Sweden U16 (all) |
International-Jr |
8 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2007-2008 |
Småland |
TV-Pucken |
8 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
HV71 J18 |
J18 Elit |
13 |
7 |
9 |
16 |
26 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
HV71 J18 |
J18 Allsvenskan |
5 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
HV71 J20 |
SuperElit |
23 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
12 |
| |
Playoffs |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| |
Sweden U17 (all) |
International-Jr |
6 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2008-2009 |
HV71 J20 |
SuperElit |
41 |
8 |
28 |
36 |
44 |
| |
Playoffs |
6 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
| |
Sweden U18 (all) |
International-Jr |
14 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
HV71 J20 |
SuperElit |
15 |
5 |
29 |
34 |
14 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
HV71 |
Elitserien |
28 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
| |
Playoffs |
16 |
1 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
| |
Sweden U18 (all) |
International-Jr |
4 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2010-2011 |
HV71 |
Elitserien |
52 |
0 |
16 |
16 |
32 |
| |
Playoffs |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
HV71 |
ET |
8 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
| |
Playoffs |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| |
HV71 J20 |
SuperElit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
Playoffs |
5 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
| |
Sweden U20 (all) |
International-Jr |
7 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011-2012 |
HV71 |
Elitserien |
42 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
26 |
| |
Playoffs |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| |
HV71 |
ET |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2012-2013 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
