The Montreal Canadiens used many of their draft picks to select players based on their attractive talent, including what they went through to 92nd overall to select Adam Engström. At this point in his hockey career, Engström can best be described as a skill set rather than a complete hockey player.
First of all, Engström has the skating step that some of the best players in the draft class lacked, so this is a perfect starting place for him. Good hands allow you to handle the disc with ease, so you can carry it well while moving. To go with these features, it also has a 6’2 ”frame to provide plenty of range when in possession.
These are important skills to have, but you have basically received a complete package or tools with no instructions on how to use them, and you are in the process of testing all the switches and levers to see what they do.
Place of birth: Södertälje, SwedenDate of birth: 17 November 2003 Shots: LeftPosition: DefenseHeight: 6’2 ”Weight: 185 lbs. Team: Rögle BK J20 (J20 Nationell)
His feet and hands were the first thing he got. His most outstanding plays are those that find him taking the puck out of his zone and passing through the neutral zone, dodging the defenders to make the play move in the right direction.
At this point, this is roughly what you have achieved through the different functions. He has not yet figured out what size can do for him. He is among the least physical players in the class despite playing the game as a defender, mostly he knows how to grab loose records and advance them, but at least he has discovered that he can frame most attackers on the net, and that is the type of defense he prefers to play.
He rarely went into a corner to win a record battle, nor threw punches at running backs to start his draft year, but as the season progressed, those elements began to appear more as he developed his game, increasing your game. stack of defensive cards to draw. This type of game proved to have a lot of room to grow, and was probably what convinced Canadians to select it.
As he continues to improve his defensive play, he will also try to develop his attack. Right now he doesn’t know what to do in the offensive zone. In general, his tendency is to keep skating and handling the sticks, and all he does is see him stripped of the puck as he tries to beat the opposing defenders. The sheer volume of plays he was able to make with his transition ability led to a few points, and a steady slap from the point resulted in eight goals and several more assists, but he is far from what could be called an offensive defender. .
Elite perspectives
This is a long-term project that Canadians have taken on. It could be four or five years before Engström has advanced far enough to reappear on his radar. He was already among the biggest players in the draft class that was born in November 2003, so there will probably be some concern among the fan base that his game hasn’t grown at the same pace as him. Next season he will move to Rögle BK, so at least he will continue to progress in a top-tier European system, and we hope he sees time for the SHL team that also reached the semi-finals last year.
I chose to go to @roglebk for their development program and the trust of Cam and Chris [Abbott] offers young players. The facilities at Ängelholm (Rögle) are also fantastic. It should really help me move forward. ”- Recent #Habs Adam Engström on why he left Djurgården.
– Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) July 8, 2022
In a conversation with EOTP’s Patrik Bexell after his selection, Engström listed his physical game as the main area of attention for next season, but he also wants to improve his shot to be a more dangerous offensive player. . The problem doesn’t seem to be so much the shot itself; he is quite powerful from a distance, as evidenced by his eight goals. The weakness is that he does not reach the best places to use this shot, so improving his offense from the presences of the fixed offensive zone will be more by his feet than by his hands, which the brothers Cam and Chris Abbott sure to communicate. your new player. That said, stepping up will increase the power of your shot, and that’s something you’ll do during the off-season.
Engström’s best projection is more like a reliable defensive player at the moment, one who prevents the puck from reaching the forwards near the net or who ties the hands of an attacker if he does. There is value in this type of game, but there is much more value in a player who can add a physical element to be proactive rather than reactive as defensive duties. You don’t have to be a smashing batsman or flirt with cross calls every turn, but being able to slow a cycle around the corners will be a key addition to your defensive repertoire.
The stock increases significantly if you add it to your offensive game at the other end, becoming a three-zone player. This was the dream of the Canadians’ main office that made Engström one of the top 100 teams in the draft, and he is committed to making it a reality.