Swedish Maple Leafs Prospect Grundstrom Plays ‘Canadian’ Style
MONTREAL — When it comes to NHL comparisons at the world junior championship, most scouts don’t mix countries.
A Swedish defenceman, such as 16-year-old phenom Rasmus Dahlin, is the next Erik Karlsson rather than Drew Doughty. Finnish forward Eeli Tolvanen, who has a knack for scoring goals, is the next Patrik Laine even though he is four inches shorter. Canada’s Tyson Jost? He’s the next Jonathan Toews — not Mikko Koivu or Henrik Zetterberg — of course.
So it was a bit refreshing when former MODO head coach Anders Forsberg told reporters Carl Grundstrom “is rare to see a player who can play more Canadian than Canadians themselves.”
For a Swedish forward who still has all his teeth and uses an umlaut to spell his name, this was apparently the highest honour. At least, Grunstrom thinks it was.
