Each day over the next month leading up to the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 22 in Dallas, we will be taking a look at the top 31 prospects available, starting with the 31st and leading up to number one.
Next in the series of prospect profiles is our 30th-ranked prospect, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson.
Mattias Samuelsson
2017–18 Team: USA U-18 National Team Development Program (NTDP)
Date of Birth: March 14, 2000
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, PA
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 217 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: D
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 21
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: 17
NHL Comparable: Niklas Hjalmarsson
Hockey runs in Mattias Samuelsson’s blood. His father, Kjell, was a 14-year NHL veteran defenseman who played for the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1992 and 1993.
Mattias is a prototypical defensive defenseman who uses his size and physicality to deter the opposition. He is regarded as one of the most difficult defenders to play against in this year’s draft class. He uses his hockey sense and footwork to close gaps and transition the puck to his forwards.
Samuelsson’s physicality is perhaps his greatest asset, as he regularly uses his large frame to separate opposing players from the puck. Despite racking up 107 penalty minutes this season, Samuelsson does not go out of his way to make a big hit, often times relying on his strong positioning instead. This discipline allows his team to effectively transition from defense to offense instead of needing to cover for him in the case of an ill-advised hit.
While not known as an offensive defenseman, Samuelsson recorded nine goals and 19 assists this season, including three power play tallies, which was an uptick from his 2016–17 totals of six goals and 10 assists with the USA U-17 team. His lack of offense does not make him stand out nearly as much as the other top-end defensemen in this year’s draft class, which will likely keep him from being picked in the first half of the first round.
Samuelsson also possesses strong leadership characteristics, serving as his team’s captain this season.
Implications for the Blackhawks
Samuelsson’s style resembles that of former fan favorite Niklas Hjalmarsson in some ways. You generally know what you are going to get with this type of defenseman: sound defense, physicality and the ability to munch valuable minutes in the most important games of the season, albeit with very limited offensive contributions. Samuelsson’s leadership also provides another enticing attribute. Additionally, the Blackhawks have frequented the NTDP in recent drafts, so seeing them target Samuelsson at 27th overall is not difficult to envision at all, especially if they draft either a more offensive-minded defenseman or a forward with the eighth overall pick. Samuelsson is the type of reliable defender head coach Joel Quenneville does not mind having around. Samuelsson would be a nice addition to the defensive prospects the Hawks already have in Gustav Forsling, Henri Jokiharju, Ian Mitchell, Chad Krys and Blake Hillman.
Timeline
Samuelsson will be attending Western Michigan beginning in the fall, where he will likely play for at least three years alongside his brother, Lukas. Do not expect to see him in an NHL arena near you until 2021–22 at the earliest.
Projection
As his game is currently focused heavily on defense, Samuelsson should slot in as a long-term number four defender with the ability to log around 20 minutes per night for whoever selects him. If he is able to improve his offensive game, he could develop into a number three defenseman, perhaps in the mold of Adam Larsson or even long-time Blackhawk Brent Seabrook during the Hawks’ glory years.
What others are saying
“Mattias Samuelsson is going to be a top-three defenceman on some NHL team for the next 15-plus years. He’s going to eat minutes, he’s going to help you win and he’s going to be miserable to play against.”
— Seth Appert/U.S. National Team Development Program
“There’s lots of room in the game for someone who is adept on the defensive side of the puck, with leadership capabilities and unearthed offensive upside.”
— Sam Cosentino/Sportsnet
“He skates well considering how big he is – at nearly 220 pounds – and doesn’t take a shift off from defending his own end. He’s able to use his strength in puck battles and does a good job blocking out opposing players in one-on-one battles. … While he might not be the top defenceman in the draft, (his) ability in the defensive end could be an asset that a number of teams target as the first round comes to an end. That said, if he does slip to the early part of the second round, one team could get very lucky with Samuelsson.”
— Andrew Forbes/The Hockey Writers