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Why Scouts Should Pick Pat Svoboda [1/2]


StamkosFan

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Pat Svoboda carries the puck along the boards against Saskatoon in the VHLM finals.

 

The VHLM draft date, while it has yet to be announced, is expected to be scheduled for some time next week. Now is the time when team scouts have been scouring the minors for future stars and making their draft boards; quite a few could be sighted in the stands in the VHLM finals, scribbling furiously at their clipboards at every play. Pat Svoboda has been rocketing up draft boards after crossing the pond midway through the season and becoming a prolific scorer for the Ottawa Lynx, finishing the year on the top line in the playoffs in spite of minimal experience. So what makes him different from the talented competition in his draft class? 

 

One thing is that Svoboda, a Swede, has experience in leagues against men already from playing in his home country. He is not as young as many prospects, having taken the time to hone his craft overseas, and at 25, his frame has fully filled out and his game is much less reckless. He thinks the game at a high level, with almost all scouts walking away remarking that he has incredible hockey IQ. Also, as he grew in stature, he grew into a player that is taller than the average skater, so he doesn't shy away from incoming hits, he has long reach, and he can sometimes force his way through shorter defenders. His 6'5'' height is more than VHL size, and it doesn't seem to hinder him in the ways that some worry about; his acceleration is smooth and effortless. He is an above average skater, which is more than you can say about most players his size.

 

Also, snipers tend to be the most valuable players in the league nowadays, and Svoboda, a volume shooter and lauded goal scorer, has a wicked wrist shot and a monstrous slap shot in his arsenal. He is the type of player that can score goals at any level thanks to the power and accuracy behind his shot. He doesn't try to make pretty plays or waste an open shooting lane by looking for a pass. He gets the job done and he generates as many shot opportunities as possible; the only stat that matters to him is putting pucks in the back of the net. He scored at over a point per game pace in the VHLM, so that bodes well for his conversion rate in the pros.

 

He has a lot more attributes that give merit to his game, and few noticeable weaknesses; he could become a fixture on any lineup he is brought into. With a prestigious agent backing him, he seems like a safe bet to pan out as well. He has the makings of a franchise player, and the three guys he mentions molding his game after, Patrik Laine, Nikita Kucherov, and Alexander Ovechkin, are pretty darn good. One must only assume scouts are taking note of Svoboda's promising qualities, and it would be surprising to see him fall on draft day.

Edited by StamkosFan
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7 minutes ago, McWolf said:

In my book, you're a sure 1st rounder. Keep it up, boy!

In your book, you also think you're getting traded to Helsinki to be a part of the S66 Continental Cup Champs, and we all know what happened last time I had a chance to add you...

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Review: Nice article detailing your player and why he should be a first round pick in the upcoming VHLM Draft. It's a shame that we weren't able to take home the Founder's Cup, but obviously no one expected us to get as far as we did. This is my own personal take, but when it comes to NHL prospects, I view it as a great positive when young players are competing against men, whether it's the SHL, NCAA, or rarely, the KHL. Good luck on draft day!

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  • DollarAndADream changed the title to Why Scouts Should Pick Pat Svoboda [1/2]

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