It almost feels like a cliche at this point. In almost every single NHL Draft there is a prospect that those who pay attention online and watch some tape and look at more advanced stats than just the ones we’re given on Elite Prospects, tend to believe should be ranked much higher than he is. For some reason — whether it is his listed height or weight or the league he plays in — there is always a prospect that us prospect freaks (endearing) like so much more than the consensus.
And typically, these players get drafted much later than they should and they end up being much better than a solid amount of prospects drafted before them. Maybe it’s the development system that they’re in, or maybe it’s that they were destined to be a good player but people were too scared because he didn’t fit in their archetype.
This year, there are a couple of those prospects but the most notable is Swedish center Viggo Bjorck.
While he is ranked in the top 10 for just about everyone, the ceiling for Bjorck feels much higher than most are assuming. His profile just screams a top-six center that teams are envious of and he should be thought of as much when comparing him to other forwards who haven’t even scratched the surface of what he’s already accomplished.
Pre-draft rankings
Ranked #4 by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)
Ranked #8 by Elite Prospects
Ranked #9 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked #6 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
Ranked #7 by Sportsnet (Jason Bukala)
Ranked #8 by FloHockey (Chris Peters)
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Bjorck’s overall profile just feels like someone destined for higher heights. He’s already played a full season in the SHL and down the stretch, played the majority of his games as Djurgardens’ first-line center. A draft-eligible teenager is not supposed to be in that spot for a team trying to win as many games as possible and not really focus too much on development. But Bjorck earned that position just because of how well he played.
During the final 10 games of the SHL season, Bjorck scored one goal and seven points, truly taking advantage of an increased opportunity on a team trying to come alive for the playoffs. The potential for production is clearly there and if he didn’t start the season having under 13 minutes a game, then the stat sheet would look a whole lot better.
Regardless of production, though, it should be seen as an immense advantage that Bjorck has played his entire season in arguably the best league in Europe. While other forwards in the draft class had to play against peers or players even younger than them, he was playing up against some grizzled veterans and learning pro hockey on a big stage and his late-season responsibilities just show how well he has adapted to play at that level.
Because, if anything, the main takeaway from Bjorck’s game is his smarts. While he doesn’t have incredible physical tools that can dominate opponents in that fashion, the centerman from Stockholm can think the game so much better than almost every single player in this draft — looking for unique opportunities, creating scoring chances with quick thinking in small areas of the ice, exposing defenders with intelligent routes to take on the rush or during cycle play. In watching any game from Bjorck this season, there were so many times where he just outsmarted an opponent to make something happen.
And because he’s already playing pro hockey, it isn’t an intelligence or a pace of play that will need to be adapted as much as others playing junior. If there’s an OHL player who has been heralded for his smarts, then it still needs to be tested against faster and quicker and grown-up men, rather than 16-year-olds who are likely to never even play pro at any level.
Bjorck’s positives really comes down to how quick his brain can work on the ice and how translatable that is as he develops — he can also shoot the puck extremely well and is strong on the puck, just to throw that in there. He’s already been given defensive responsibilities and being an all-situations type of player so early on is such an asset.
What’s not to like?
Those who want to discredit Bjorck really focus on a couple things and it is somewhat justifiable.
As smart as Bjorck is on and off the puck, there is a lack of size that raises some concerns if he can physically do what he does in the NHL. Despite his brother being 6-foot and his dad being 6-foot-2, Bjorck’s current height of 5-foot-10 is scaring off some from making him a top five selection in the draft, like he deserves.
The other little thing other than his height is that Bjorck isn’t necessarily the most explosive skater. He can separate himself from opponents well enough at the current level, but he isn’t a burner by any means. And if a center doesn’t have the size or straight-ahead speed, then it already puts him a step back in terms of overall reputation and where NHL teams are comfortable taking such a player.
Like with any prospect, there is a world where Bjorck doesn’t work out. While other talented prospects might have issues adjusting to the pace of play or just having everyone around him be so much more aggressive in pursuit of possession; for Bjorck it will be if teams are able to bully him a little bit and his skating speed becomes an issue. He’s not a bad skater at all, but it’s just in foot races where he can fall behind.
It’s also the smallest of complaints when you consider just how well he plays in every other aspect of the game. Not every centerman needs to be McDavid out there.
How would he fit the Flyers’ system?
There is so much noise around the Flyers wanting to be bigger, it’s hard to see them fully embrace what he has to offer. But, also considering how much they have fallen in love with a player like Denver Barkey, they should really appreciate Bjorck and he would be such an asset to have down the middle.
Bjorck would probably be the best center prospect the Flyers have had since Nolan Patrick (as a prospect, not an actual NHL player) and even then, it’s arguable that Bjorck is better right now than Patrick was in his draft year. He’s someone we could all pencil into the Flyers’ top six and he would probably be here fairly quickly due to how projectable his game is.
So, of course he would be a great fit.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
It isn’t impossible to think that Bjorck might drop. We just saw it with Victor Eklund last year, as the smallish Swedish winger fell all the way into the middle of the first round despite him appearing like a top-eight lock earlier.
With the Flyers having the pick No. 21 in the first round, if they want to trade up to something like 13th overall by attaching a couple more picks, and snatch Bjorck before he slips further — again, it’s not impossible to think about. They just pulled off a similar move last year with Jack Nesbitt. Now, they can get a centerman that has much, much more upside.
But still, it feels unlikely.
What scouts are saying
“Bjorck can play with the puck on a string and make plays as a natural facilitator who has a ton of poise and vision, but he also plays in and out of give-and-gos, will go to the net and finish off plays and has great overall sense on and off the puck. He’s also a quick and fast skater who can play at different paces and challenge both in straight lines and on cuts and turnbacks, even if he’s not a true burner for his size. I like his craft on the puck, and he has an impressive knack for spinning and shaking away from coverage and drawing penalties. He will go outside to attack back inside with his agility and ability to carve into defenders’ hands. He’s quick to attack and makes defenders and sticks miss. He runs the half wall/flank on the power play with poise and comfort. He has a quick release, a rapid first three steps and can accelerate around D from a standstill. He’s sturdy on his skates and will take pucks to the blue paint on D or play through contact along the wall. And while he’ll occasionally turn over some pucks trying to be too cute, he wins them back well with stick lifts and his surprising strength. He processes the play faster than his peers and often makes quick reads with the puck before it has even landed on his stick. I’m confident that because of his hockey sense and compete that he projects as a center up levels, too. He’s a slippery, clever, crafty offensive player, but he’s also really smart and just reads the play at an advanced level on both sides of the puck. He might not go this high, but I know I’m not alone in viewing him as a very real top-10 pick and the No. 2 center in the class”
–Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
“You want to talk impressive seasons, I’m not sure any player has taken as great a leap as Viggo Björck. Habitually found on the first line playing centre for the Djurgårdens men’s team in the SHL is no small task, and by and large he’s been excellent in that role. A very capable transition driver, especially offensively, Viggo Björck has an exceptional view of the ice with great awareness and timing on his passes, stitching play together and generating almost 50% of his team’s shot attempts in some way, all while just 30% of his shot attempts come from outside scoring areas. While on paper Stenberg has a slight advantage in key areas, Björck has more evidence of physicality and net-driven grind off the puck, with awesome give-and-goes all over the ice, and vastly improving the pace and speed of his game in the last year. His key weakness is a combination of being a bit undersized without elite agility and speed in his skating, especially for a centre. I am personally less concerned as there is physical growth potential, and plenty of time to develop those areas. The thinking ability, pass vision, overall energy, and off-puck skill is very tantalizing, and it seems very possible that Björck goes significantly later than I would take him, which a smart NHL team may be able to capitalize on come draft day. A strong U18 might change that perception as it might for Lawrence, but as of today, I’m surprised at just how down many are on him.”
–Will Scouch, scouching.ca
Next up, we’re adding right-handed defenseman prospect Daxon Rudolph. He has his believers, but he also has his doubters.
“Rudolph is an average skater who moves well and comfortably through his patterns but can look a little unorthodox doing it at times. He can manipulate coverage or jump off the line and has great hands one-on-one when he wants to challenge opposing players. He sees the ice well and can beat the first layer and then find the back door through a second layer. He defends the rush well and has a very good stick. He’s a heady player who thinks the game well. He has legit size.”
–Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
