NHL Draft 2012 Prospects: #5 Filip Forsberg

The draft, hands down, is the best time of the hockey season. Maybe I'm just saying that because the Wild haven't been seen post-season action since 2008, but that is besides the point.

So, on June 22nd-23rd, we will all sit down in front of the television/computer and watch the draft. But if you are wondering, "who's who", then you haven't been reading HW because thats my job.

So without further ado:

Introducing our 2012 NHL #5 Draft Prospect - Filip Forsberg:

Accomplishments & Awards:

Prospect Jersey (What Would They Look Like In a Wild Jersey?):

Summarized Scouting Report

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

HW Projection:

Video Evidence:

Where Does He Fit In The Wild?

The Wild tons of skilled center prospects in Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Johan Larsson, Zach Phillips, but who is going to play alongside them?

Yes, Forsberg is a natural center but his skills are easily translatable into a power winger and considering that Granlund is a somewhat small guy, having a 6-2 power winger bulling his way on the side and creating room for his linemates will would wonders.

But again, don't expect to see him drop to #7 even if I have rated only 2 spots higher at #5.

Conclusion

As I writing these profiles, I am starting to be dumbfounded by the talent there is in the top half of this draft (the bottom half, not so much but we'll get there soon enough). Forsberg is rated #5 but is sounding to be a great prospect worthy of a #2 pick.

Let's see ... above average skater ... above average stick and puck skills ... above average strength ... above average play in offensive and defensive zone ... great shot. To me, all that spells is low risk/high reward prospect. In other words, you are getting an NHLer.

The only weakness I could find is that he could smooth out his skating stride and add more muscle to his frame but is that really a 'flaw'? Or is that just the sound of a young kid? To me, its the latter, and with 2 years of development, all your left with is his strengths which is a powerforward with top line offensive skills.

Just to clarify, from what I could gather, Forsberg isn't the physical power forward type. He isn't going to constantly punish the opposing team physically, but he has the type of powerforward that will protect the puck, use his strength to win board battles, and use his body to drive to the net, leaving defenders helpless and perhaps even forcing them to take a penalty, just to stop him.

I like that.

Special thanks to HFBoards, Future Considerations, The Hockey Writers, TSN, OHLProspeccts and The Scouting Report