Markus Granlund
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Birthday:
1993-04-16 |
Position:
C |
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Eligible for draft:
2011 |
Shoots:
Left |
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Drafted:
2011 |
Height:
5-11 |
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Acquired:
2nd round (45th overall), 2011 |
Weight:
175 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- D
History
2008-09: Markus Granlund spent most of the season with Karpat's U-16 squad. In 23 games for that squad, he scored 22 goals and added 37 assists for 59 points. In 7 playoff games, he scored 4 goals and added 8 assists for 12 points.
2009-10: Granlund spent most of the season with HIFK's U-20 squad, appearing in 37 games for that team. He netted 17 goals and added 25 assists for 42 points. In 14 playoff games, Granlund scored 2 goals and added 11 assists for 13 points. Granlund also played for the HIFK U-18 squad, scoring 9 goals and adding 20 assists for 29 points in 11 games. Granlund played for Finland at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring 2 goals and adding 3 assists for 5 points in 5 games. He also played for Finland's bronze medal team at the 2010 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 1 goal and adding 5 assists for 6 points in 6 games.
2010-11: Played for HIFK's U-20 squad, appearing in 40 games for that team. Granlund netted 20 goals and added 32 assists for 52 points to go along with 49 penalty minutes. In 5 playoff games, he scored 4 goals and added 5 assists for 9 points. Granlund captained Finland's team at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 2 goals and adding 8 assists for 10 points in 6 games.
2011-12: Granlund skated for HIFK in Finland's SM-Liiga and played for Finland at the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship. A teammate of older brother Mikael Granlund on both HIFK and the U20 team, he scored 15 goals with 19 assists and was plus-19 with 18 penalty minutes in 47 games for HIFK as a rookie. He saw limited time in the playoffs – appearing in 3 of 4 games – and was minus-three with no points nor penalty minutes. He played on the top line along with Mikael Granlund and Teemu Pulkkinen for fourth-place Finland at the WJC; scoring 2 goals with 5 assists in seven games and was plus-five with 6 penalty minutes.
Talent Analysis
Granlund has good hockey sense, excellent playmaking abilities and sees the ice well. The skilled center is exceptional at running the power play but needs to improve his overall strength and skating to play at the NHL level. He will be playing without his brother, Mikael who left Finland to play in the North America with the Minnesota Wild organization and the talented center needs to show what he can do on his own. His defensive game is still a work in progress.
Future
Granlund will play at least another year in Finland before following his brother to North America to play at the professional level in the AHL or NHL. He must fulfill his military duty requirements before he may leave his country. The Flames' second round forward should get another chance to represent his country and shine at the 2013 WJC tournament this year.
