Fabian Brunnstrom, the next Daniel Alfredsson?
Fabian Brunnstrom has a lot of NHL GMs interested in his services. (Photo by Bruce Jessop/IHA)
Ken Campbell
2007-11-23 13:54:15
Fabian Brunnstrom may not turn out to be the next Daniel Alfredsson, but apparently a ton of NHL teams aren't willing to take a chance on being wrong about him.
In fact, one assistant GM reckons every team in the NHL is probably after Brunnstrom, a little-known 22-year-old rookie for Farjestad in the Swedish Elite League. That's because Brunnstrom is just now developing into a legitimate NHL prospect and now that European players are subject to the same draft rules as North Americans under the new collective bargaining agreement, he is an unrestricted free agent (take a look at this YouTube video for a small sample of his skill level).
"He's the first of a lot of players from Europe you're going to see in this situation," said the assistant GM. "It used to be you waited for European players. Lots of times you would draft them and keep them over there for four or five years to see how they develop. Well, you can't do that anymore."
Brunnstrom, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward, is a classic late bloomer. Last season he was playing First Division in Sweden, which is two steps under the Elite League and was a star at that level, which prompted Farjestad to sign him this season. He skates very well and his three goals and 13 points in 21 games are probably not a clear indication of how good he is offensively.
One scout said it's doubtful Brunnstrom could step in and play on an NHL team's top two lines right now, but he is seen as a good prospect with a lot of upside. And remember, there are a number of hockey executives who still wake up in a cold sweat over not paying more attention to Alfredsson, who was drafted 133rd overall by the Ottawa Senators as a 21-year-old in 1994.
"He's coming pretty much from nowhere," said Farjestad GM Hakan Loob. "Mentally, he has grown strong in the past year, but he has the potential to become mentally stronger. He looks like he has been in the Elite League for a couple of years the way he moves the puck and skates and everything like that."
Loob did acknowledge that Brunnstrom has faltered a little after a fast start, so rushing him into the NHL would not be a wise idea.
"If they treat him the right way, I think he's got a good future ahead of him," Loob said. "But if he's thrown into the NHL too soon, he might not do anything."
joseph jonhnston (Posted 2008-06-21 11:44:02)
with brunnstrom the stars will win
colin cantwell (Posted 2008-06-21 11:41:40)
stars are going all the way with brunnstrom
Jason Aldon (Posted 2008-05-09 15:14:57)
GO STARS!!!
ME (Posted 2008-05-08 21:28:26)
Ha sorry VanConant hes a Dallas Stars. STARS WIN THE BRUNNSTROM swepstakes
VanConant (Posted 2008-05-02 15:23:55)
Brunnstrom is going to the Wings, there EIGHT swedes on the team and all are pretty damn good. He got to watch the 8-2 spanking of the avalanche where i might add, every goal was scored by a swede 2 by Zetty, 2 by sammuelsson, 3 by Frazen, and 1 by holmstrom. he said how their chemistry is amazing and it makes him proud to be a swede...... welcome to detroit brunnstrom!
jjdinardo (Posted 2008-05-01 13:01:22)
Who is this "leonard kid"
* on brunnstrom, folks I think we're talking "bust" here.
Yes he will wind up with leafs. Demanding to play with sundin...oh boy..like mats needs another kid on his wing.
He can;t get a no move entry level perk, tg
look at tucker and McCabe, when rthey got a
"no move contract" they took it literally and neither moved an inch on the ice.
Sunny (Posted 2008-04-30 11:16:03)
Hakan Loob eh?
Well,
Put in a good word for the Flames,
Who know's
STUO11 (Posted 2008-04-30 09:42:28)
Toronto isn't rebuilding yet! WTF are u talking about?! They still get all these old guys thinking that they can make the playoffs, qwhich will never happen until they blow it up. Leafs biggest prospect: backup Pogge, It's all they have lol. The leafs have to blow it up soon! I thikn Brunnstrom would like to go to Edmonton or Montreal both those teams have wicked futures.
Wayne Moy (Posted 2008-04-30 08:46:55)
Well, he's on a Mini-North American tour and is only checking out playoff contenders. So the Laffs are definately out. LOL!
Spence Pearce (Posted 2008-04-29 22:28:44)
LOL! Jeff Turner are you serious? First of all how can you say the wings are going down the drain? Evidentally you have limited hockey knowledge because they're going to continue to dominate for years to come. They have the most depth in the NHL, and those are big words from a Habs fan. They find gems in every single draft, and have a few young guns playing for them now and will have many more in years to come. The sens still have a strong core of players they just need small tweaking. The Leafs on the other hand, the sad old laughable Leafs, are doing nothing. Rebuilding? They've been in the middle of the standings for the past 3 years. They couldn't trade away any of their somewhat valuable players because of genius John Ferguson JR. giving them all no-trade clauses. Last time I checked, they still have those guys. Cliff Fletcher did all he could at the deadline and got a few middle-late round picks, but hell if this is what you consider rebuilding, you gotta boost your knowledge or pay a little more attention. Brunnstrom might go to the leafs, the sole reason being he wants to play right away. If he does that, odds are he won't end up as good as he could. If he went to Detroit or Montreal he'd probably have his potential maximized as they both know how to develop players better than any team in the league.
Jeff Turner (Posted 2008-04-28 15:25:28)
The Leafs are definally getting him, who would want to play for the sens or red wings? 2 teams soon to be down the drain unlike toronto who is rebuilding and becoming better again
canucks (Posted 2008-04-26 14:48:19)
he going to be a canucks and play with the Sedins!
af (Posted 2008-04-22 11:07:33)
He's going to the Leafs and we all know it. He said that Toronto has a slight edge in the race to get him. And why sign with Detroit? HE says there is to much depth on offence there. Go Leafs BRunnstrom is yours
Ima doynk (Posted 2008-04-21 15:01:07)
Leafs want Rob Leonard...watch out for this kid...he's the next Sean Avery!
lcmaddog (Posted 2008-04-21 10:36:56)
You're right Jeff. You do have the best swedes in the NHL right now. Add one more and you will probably never win another playoff series let alone the stanley cup. This kid is totally unproven.
Brian (Posted 2008-04-21 10:29:59)
Steen would look good playing along side of him man that would give the Leafs some serious skill
Jeff Richards (Posted 2008-04-21 05:58:24)
You are fantasizing...Brunnstrom will be a Wing, and you all know it. We already have the best players from Sweden in Detroit, and adding another will be no problem.
Zack Hildrabrand (Posted 2008-04-21 02:44:08)
the leafs want ZACK HILDABRAND
Here's why, msconduct (Posted 2008-04-20 16:19:20)
Fabian Brunnstrom, a highly touted 23 year old unrestricted free agent mere days from signing with the Vancouver Canucks prior to the firing of Dave Nonis as general manager has shifted his focus east with the Toronto Maple Leafs having a slight edge among the frontrunners.
Maple Leafs assistant GM Jeff Jackson and Brunnstrom's agent JP Barry have had discussions this week that both characterize as encouraging.
msconduct (Posted 2008-04-20 12:53:48)
LOL @ CT. Leaf fans think everyone is going to Toronto.
byenonis (Posted 2008-04-20 01:01:38)
he was a canuck.
until they fired nonis
c.t (Posted 2008-04-19 23:41:54)
Dream on Justin.
You'll see him in Ottawa when the Leafs come to town.
Justin (Posted 2008-04-15 19:47:27)
Wow imagine if he and Alfredsson played together on the same line. Good lord that would be destruction but I dont think the chances of the Sens getting him are high.
Ryan K. (Posted 2008-04-14 00:35:11)
Thank god.
Fraser R. (Posted 2008-04-12 21:27:28)
He is a Canuck
Scott Robertson (Posted 2008-04-12 21:02:02)
After watching HNIC tonite, I heard that the Canucks are in the best position to sign Brunnstrom.
Jenny (Posted 2008-02-17 02:38:51)
he's my friend. i live really close to him and known him for years. he's great
styles (Posted 2008-02-12 00:11:30)
It's already said and done. Go Wings! Zetterberg, Lidstrom will make this an easy choice for young Swede.
Matt White (Posted 2008-02-04 03:11:08)
Brunnstrom is coming to the Ducks
wash.caps mike (Posted 2008-01-29 00:07:18)
the caps should grab him and let him play with backstrom.that would be awesome!
Dale Charette (Posted 2008-01-20 05:56:23)
Gretzky will recruit this kid to help in the Coyotes youth movement. What an additin he'd make in a year or two along with Mueller, Hanzal, Turris and Wheeler.
Lanny McWard... (Posted 2008-01-19 22:03:00)
The Leafs are looking at him. JFJ is trying very hard to sign him. According to HNIC the Leafs are in the top 5 teams to sign him.
Red Wing Rich (Posted 2007-12-08 10:33:28)
he likely will be a Wing,Wings know how to bring these guys along.along with the Tre Krona connection of Hakan Andersson,there's little doubt what team knows how to develop these type of players to the next level.
luther talloak (Posted 2007-11-27 10:39:39)
Not the leafs. Toronto is looking at prospect 35 year old Gunther Schmidtt of the German 4th division. He is a tall, slow, stay at home D-man.
GP-51 G-1 A-3 PTS-4 PIM-9
They call him "the luftwaffe of Leipzig".
Go leafs!
Erik (Posted 2007-11-26 12:44:12)
The first divison is TWO steps under the Elite league, first you have the Elite league, then Allsvenskan and then the First division. 13 points in 21 games is quite impressive. He has had some bad luck with the scoring, often he wants to do that little extra move and instead loses the puck, but he's got a fantastic technique and it's a show everytime he's on the ice.
Chris K. (Posted 2007-11-25 09:48:48)
I think right now it is too early to evaluate someone and say they are ready for the NHL. Sure he may have the numbers for the Swedish Elite league but the NHL is a different story. To better scout him we will probably have to wait and see how he is doing mid season and then take it from there.
Christopher (Posted 2007-11-24 21:58:30)
If he turns out to be like Alfredsson,I think the Habs would need him to be a better,stable team with better offense.
cam w (Posted 2007-11-24 17:09:00)
montreal has had good picks. give him to toronto
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