It seems like the Edmonton Oilers have been looking for two-way defenders who can not only play strong defensive hockey but also move the puck for a decade now. Peter Chiarelli has tried addressing this with major trades/signings, acquiring defenders Griffin Reinhart, Andrej Sekera and Adam Larsson in the span of two summers. While those moves should help the NHL roster, Edmonton’s system still lacks this player type.
That’s why it wasn’t a shock to see Edmonton select Markus Niemelainen in the third round of this past June’s draft, and why it wasn’t a surprise when they followed that up with a similar selection in Filip Berglund at the end of the round.
The big Swedish defender played overseas last season and is again this year, meaning fans of the Oilers will have to wait at least one more campaign before seeing their new toy in North America.
So….Just Who Is Filip Berglund?:
Selected in the third round, 91st overall, Berglund adds some depth to the sorely lacking right-shot defender depth chart. The 6’3” and 209 pound rearguard has solid size at 19 years old and has some professional experience in Sweden. He played in five games for Skelleftea last season, recording zero points for the club.
He also played for Skelleftea’s U-20 team, recording 19-22-41 in 43 games, a very solid total for a defender.
He seems to be a player with solid footspeed, good offensive instincts, and a big shot from the point. His ability to score 19 goals last season, even playing for the U-20 team, demonstrates some ability against his peers. He likely will never be a 20 goal scorer in the NHL, if he even makes it, but this total suggests he should be somewhat of a threat from the point if/when he arrives.
The Hockey News has a scouting report on the player, which you can read below:
| Assets: | Has excellent offensive instincts and can run the power play with aplomb. Has a knack for getting pucks through traffic and can also score goals from the point. Owns ideal size for a National Hockey League defenseman. |
| Flaws: | Must start using his impressive frame far more to his advantage, as well as improve his overall play without the puck in the defensive zone, in order to maximize output in the NHL. Can be too much of a risk taker. |
| Career Potential: | Big, talented offensive defenseman with upside. |
What Can We Expect:
Berglund is actually a player of interest to me because of his skill set and whose eyes he has caught. Lowetide, to me at least, is the go-to guy for news and opinions when it comes to Oiler prospects. When he raves about a player, like he did about Berglund here (and here), it catches my attention.
Berglund’s position, right-shot defender, and skill-set perfectly match what the Edmonton Oilers are looking for. Combine that with him playing in the SHL this season and I think we can expect Berglund to establish himself as a real prospect of interest for the club.
In terms of possible expectations for this season, I think securing a full-time roster spot and scoring 0.5 points per game is a good line in the sand for this player. I’d like to see him get some powerplay time as well and record around 20 minutes of ice time per game too, but it’s unlikely a rookie earns such a big role in Sweden’s top league.
Will He Be A Long Term Oiler?:
Like with any draft pick outside of the first round, it’s impossible to answer this question. That said, Berglund has the third highest chance (behind Puljujarvi and Benson) of being a long term Oiler in my humble opinion. All the things we talked about above are working in his favor, and the fact that he has pro experience will only help him when he starts his North American journey in the next year or two.
For now, I think Berglund is just about guaranteed four years as a prospect. He’ll play out this season in Sweden, then I suspect the Oilers will bring him over for his three-year entry level contract. At the conclusion of that, we’ll be able to better answer this question.
I must admit, however, that I really like his chances.
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