| Ludvig Lafton | Frisk Asker | International | L | D | 6’2″ | 183 | Baerum, NOR | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: C
Comments: We were not very impressed at all with Lafton’s game today. He was very passive, not very confident with the puck, and fumbled the puck constantly. He sat back on defense and was not able to create much of an impact, allowing many chances due to his late reactions and inability to read the play. He made some decent passes at times, but a majority of his possessions ended in turnovers due to poor handling ability. He looked shaky today and we did not like the effort that he showed in this game.
| Stian Solberg | Valerenga | International | L | D | 6’2″ | 196 | Oslo, NOR | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Neutral Zone was impressed with Stolberg’s two-way game today despite losing big to Slovakia. He is 6’2″ 200 lbs and plays with an edge. We were very impressed with his defensive game. He angled opponents towards the boards and was very difficult to get around in transition. One rush in particular he timed his cut over to the puck carrier, angled him to the wall, and sealed him off with a heavy check. He showed great effort after this play by hustling into the corner and winning the race to a loose puck which he quickly moved up ice with a crisp breakout pass. He battled hard in the crease, using his strength to push opponents away from his goalie and Stian also had an active stick that he used well to break up passes and close off open sticks around the net. There was one rush that gave me some concern where he was turned by a much faster opponent. At the next level, every player will be moving at that pace so he will need to improve his agility and backwards skating speed to keep up. The best part of his game today was his physical play. He plays with an edge, finishing checks, making sure to give opponents an extra bump/shove, and he never backed down from a scrum or battle. His offensive game was good tonight as well, finishing the game with a goal and some time on the power play. He remained calm under pressure and displayed good puck movement in the offensive zone. Stolberg executed a skilled head fake in the first period where he sold one direction and got his opponent to bite hard before cutting the other way and firing a heavy shot. His goal came late in the game when he activated deep into the offensive zone to set up a 2v1 on the rush and buried a feed into a wide-open net. Stolberg is a big, strong, responsible two-way defender whose draft stock is improved by his physical style of play. We liked his game today and would like to get a couple more looks at him before the end of the year.
| Michael Brandsegg-Nygard | Mora IK | SHL | R | C | 6’1″ | 194 | Oslo, NOR | 2005 | 2023-2024: A- |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Despite a big loss to a talented opponent, Brandsegg-Nygard had a fantastic game. He finished with 2 goals, 1 assist, and hit everything in sight. He is a big, strong, workhorse with a high motor. He was good on the forecheck today, applying tight pressure and finishing his checks hard into the glass. He has a long powerful stride that pushes himself up and down the ice and was able to maintain a high effort level all game. Brandsegg-Nygard has an NHL shot with a quick and powerful release and is able to pick corners with high accuracy. His first goal came off of a great effort play in the defensive end. He jumped the opponents play off of a faceoff and battled for possession while pushing play into the neutral zone. He won the puck and charged down the wall into the offensive zone. Then he slowed up and ripped a heavy wrist shot, firing a perfectly placed shot just under the bar to open scoring. Fantastic effort in a battle combined with a great release gave Norway the lead early. His second goal came off a similar shot from above the circles. He fired a very heavy wrist shot under the bar. His release is so quick, powerful, and accurate that he gives goalies very little chance to make a save when he is given space. MBN is a very confident player with the puck and is able to pull off some well-timed fakes in transition to keep play moving but he lacks the elite speed and hands that many other first rounders have. These two traits definitely hold him back from being a true offensive threat but his contributions without the puck and his elite shot are enough to make him a high-end player. His motor and compete levels are matched by very few and he should become a very important piece on an NHL roster in the near future. We think he will end up going 15-20 in this year’s draft and projects as a middle six winger in the NHL.
| Luka Radivojevic | Orebro HK J20 | J20 Nationell | R | D | 5’10” | 154 | Edina, MN | 2007 | 2024-2025: A |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: 2007 born Radivojevic is eligible for the 2025 draft. He is the youngest player in the entire tournament this year but looked very good in today’s win. He has quick feet and a smooth stride that allow him to maneuver around the ice very well. He showed off some agile footwork as well, opening his hips to fake out forecheckers and walk deep into the offensive zone. He was very patient with the puck for most of this game. He remained calm and executed quick, smart pass decisions to keep play moving in all three zones. He is very confident and joined the rush with possession multiple times. Luka was given some time on the powerplay and was able to score on the man advantage in the second period. He has a great wrist shot for his size/age and fired a heavy shot from the point which beat traffic in front and found the back of the net. He is not a perfect defender, but we were very impressed with the way he played in his own end. He made responsible choices to step and close off play. One in particular he used his feet to stay in front of his opponent and angle them away from the net, shutting down a rush opportunity. He is an undersized player, but Neutral Zone was impressed with his physicality and battle level. He joined scrums behind the net and used his body well to check players away from the puck. He was responsible and aware in his own end and did not sit back the way that many other players his age do. He will need to refine his soft skills, add strength, work on decision making, and hopefully grow a few more inches but, Radivojevic was very impressive today. He is uber confident and has a great base of skill, smarts, and effort which will very likely lead to him becoming a top defenseman in the 2025 draft. Definitely a player to keep an eye on for next season.
Player Evaluations: Henry Lawrence