What does Milton Gastrin have to do to get recognized as a top-30 prospect by the masses?
Captain of Sweden’s U17 team last year, captain and first-line center of their Hlinka squad this past summer, where he finished tied for third in scoring. Tied for fifth in Swedish junior scoring after the first month of the season. Set a record at the Hlinka with an eight-point game.
Leadership? He has worn a ‘C’ for Sweden at all events the past two seasons and sports an ‘A’ with Modo.
Size? He’s 6-1 183 and will turn 18 next June, seven months from now. He has the prototypical size for a scoring forward.
Defence? He hasn’t been on the ice for a goal against in the last 90 minutes he has played despite being a regular on the penalty kill.
Faceoffs? He is winning 60 percent of his draws so far this season with Modo U20, and he was 58 percent on faceoffs at the Hlinka.
Speed? Check out the highlights below.
In my estimation, he was Sweden’s best draft-eligible prospect at the Hlinka Gretzky, yet Jacob Ihs Wozniak remains well above him on draft lists. Wozniak was underwhelming at Hlinka and has failed to score a goal in junior this season. His only advantages over Gastrin at this point are his past reputation and being 6-3.
Heading into the finalization of my preliminary draft rankings, Victor Eklund and Gastrin are my top Swedish forwards and are firmly planted in the top 30. Wozniak is going to have to improve his competitiveness to be in the conversation with those two.
Here are Gastrin’s more notable shifts in a game versus AIK on Sept. 22:
