| Anton Wahlberg | Malmo | SHL | L | C | 6’3″ | 191 | Malmo, SWE | 2005 | 2022-2023: B- |
SHL: Malmo vs Skelleftea, February 18, 2023: Wahlberg totaled 10:20 totaled 10:20 in ice time. He did not play on either special team’s unit. The SHL is a very fast fluid league with a very quick tempo and there were times when Wahlberg appeared to be lumbering through shifts, but then you realize he’s a 6’3″ July 2005 and think about the upside he shows. We liked his ability to protect the puck while cycling. He generated a grade “A” opportunity when he chased down a 50/50 puck on his off-wing, then slammed on the breaks and used his overall athleticism to pull away from the defender for a shot in the high slot. As the play continued the grade “A” happened when he settled into the high slot for a one-timer. He miss fired on the shot, but the entire play was a glimpse into what he could bring on a nightly basis when he’s older and more physically mature. He had the primary assist on Malmo’s second goal of the game. The assist resulted from a fluky bounce, but we liked his awareness prior to the goal while his linemates were cycling in the left hand corner and below the goal line. Initially he was positioned at the top of the crease, but as the play and chaos continued he pulled out to the mid-slot which allowed him to be a passing / shooting option. He then received a pass and in one sweeping cross body motion fired a 12″ snapper that resulted in a rebound and then the goal. Wahlberg did have two shots blocked, but both came on quick sticks in the slot and we liked his mentality to fire it when he had the opportunity.
NZ’s Director of NHL Scouting Ian Moran says: Wahlberg is a 6’3″ left shot center who is a July birthday so he’s still growing into himself and there’s a pretty good chance that he’s still growing period. There are times when his skating posture still looks pretty stiff through the hips, but there are other times when his body sort of settles down through the hips and he shows above average acceleration. He is not a dangler, but when he carries the puck directly in front of himself he does have a two foot wide head fake and then a nice wide stance to protect the puck from the defender’s reach. Wahlberg scored a shorthanded goal during a December 3, 2022 U20 game versus Orebro where he showed the type of athleticism and instincts that will make NHL development coaches drool. The play originated in the defensive zone where he was the weakside forward. He used his reach to pick off a pass intended for the bumper and then literally hurdled over his opponent while throwing a chunky sauce to his PK-ing partner who had flown the zone. After the clear Wahlberg moved his feet to get up the ice and then used his reach to force another turnover at the top of the offensive zone circle. Once the puck was on his stick he attacked the crease from along the goal line. He then made a power move to the far post, protected the puck from the defender and used his reach to bury it for the shorthanded goal. I know and understand that the goal wasn’t in the SHL, but it was a heck of a play and a glimpse into what the 6’3″ 2005 could be in the not so distant future. Wahlberg is a willing net front presence and he has shown the awareness to push off of defenders to give himself more space at the top of the crease. He has strong hands for cross body one-timers, down hill tips and during the U18 Five Nations Tournament we saw him open up on his off wing for a royal road one-timer versus Finland that was a rocket and a goal. Wahlberg doesn’t have the WOW factor of some of the other European prospects, but I view him as draft pick and he is a player I’d be willing to take anywhere after the second round. It’s a fact that there just aren’t that many 6’3″ centers hanging around playing high level hockey, never mind a July 2005 who has played a few games in the SHL. Swedish players train hard. He is going to continue building his base and developing his core so that once he’s a twenty-one year old I think you’ll be looking at a player who can compete to be a middle six NHL forward who can kill penalties and with continued hard work be a net front on a power play. Once he’s drafted you bring him to development and let him see what it’s all about. Then you send him back to Sweden where he’ll play less games and train more. You have the NHL Player Development team work with him on face-offs. I know this is a long drawn out scenario, but once you’re out of the first round you’re looking for prospects / projects that will fill a role on an NHL roster and I think Wahlberg could be a third rounder who helps down the road.
U18: 5 Nation Tournament, November 8-14, 2022: Anton is a taller lanky 6’3/185 left shot centerman who does not display real quickness or explosiveness but who moves around pretty well and smooth once he is up to speed. Obviously he could use some lower body power, not just to help his quickness but to help him be stronger in combat where he appears to get knocked around a bit. He is a bit on an enigma player. With his size he will play physical at times, especially in the corners. But then he will go quiet and rely too much on his stick to do the checking and lose all body focus. And on one particular play he fooled everybody carrying the puck through traffic in the slot and rifling a backhand shot for a goal. Strength and consistency will go a long way to helping Anton develop. (Scout: Marlin Muylaert)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images