Max Gortz

History

2009-10: Max Gortz split the season between Malmo's U20 and U18 squads and played for Sweden in the 2010 U17 World Hockey Challenge. In 26 games in the U20 SuperElit league, he scored 1 goal with 3 assists and was minus-three with 6 penalty minutes. Malmo finished eighth in the Top Eight and faced AIK in a three-game playoff series. Gortz did not skate in any games in that series. He played 23 games with Malmo's U18 team; scoring 8 goals with 23 assists. Gortz scored 1 goal in six games as Sweden captured the bronze medal at the WHC.

2010-11: Gortz played in 40 SuperElit league games for Malmo in his second season at the U20 level and represented Sweden in U18 play – though he did not compete in the 2011 U18 World Junior Championship. Playing on a Redhawks team that featured twins Pathrik and Ponthus Westerholm, Gortz scored 9 goals with 9 assists and was minus-one with 6 penalty minutes. Malmo finished fifth in the Top Eight and fell to Skelleftea in the playoff quarterfinals. In five playoff games Gortz scored 2 goals and was plus-three with 2 penalty minutes. In eight games with Sweden's U18 team he was plus-two with 3 assists. He played eight games for Malmo's U18 team and had 2 goals with 1 assist.

2011-12: Gortz made his pro hockey debut – skating in 20 games for Farjestad in Sweden's Elitserien – and was one of the top scorers for the club's U20 squad in SuperElit league play. Averaging just under three minutes of ice time in 18 regular season games with Farjestad, he scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was minus-two. Farjestad finished sixth and made the playoffs. Gortz dressed for two playoff games; seeing limited action. In 28 regular season games for the Farjestad U20 team he scored 17 goals with 18 assists and was plus-11 with 6 penalty minutes. In six playoff games he had 4 goals with 2 assists and was plus-two. Not ranked among the 120 European skaters identified in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft, he was selected by Nashville in the sixth round (172nd overall).

 

Talent Analysis

Gortz is a big-bodied winger who has good puck protection down low. The two-way winger is hard to contain in the dirty areas of the ice and likes to shoot the puck. He has a solid defensive game due to his sound skating abilities and good positioned in his own end of the rink. The versatile winger played center growing up but has adjusted to the winger position quickly and improved offensive this past year. The late round pick has raw talent which will need time to develop and improve his overall offensive game to play at the NHL level but his physical style fits the North American game.

 

Future

Gortz is under contract with Färjestad of the Elitserien for at least the next two years where he will hope to play the whole season at the Men's level. The big winger will continue his development of his overall game in Europe before possibly making his way to North America.