Oskar Sundqvist
Image: Skellefteå AIK

Oskar Sundqvist

Hometown:

Boden Sweden

Team:

Pittsburgh Penguins

Currently Playing In:

Europe

Birthday:

1994-03-23
Position:

C
Eligible for draft:

2012
Shoots:

Right
Drafted:

2012
Height:

6-3
Acquired:

3rd round (81st overall), 2012
Weight:

187 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
7.5

About Prospect Talent Score and Probability of Success»

Probability of Success
  • D

History

2009-10: Oskar Sundqvist played for the Division 1 U18 team in his hometown of Boden, Sweden and played for Norbotten in the TV-Pucken tournament for high school age players. In seven TV-Pucken games he scored 3 goals with 4 assists and had 8 penalty minutes.

2010-11: Sundqvist moved up to the Skelleftea club in Sweden's top league – appearing in one game with the U20 team and providing offense for the club's U18 squad. He was minus-one with no points or penalty minutes in his only game with Skelleftea U20. In 38 games with the Skelleftea U18 team he scored 19 goals with 16 assists and was plus-seven with 100 penalty minutes. Skelleftea U18 reached the playoff quarterfinals after finishing fifth in Allsvenskan North and in eight playoff games Sundqvist scored 1 goal and had 29 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Sundqvist scored his first goal in U20 SuperElit play and was plus-one in two games with Skelleftea. He was the second-leading scorer for the club's U18 team; scoring 21 goals with 32 assists. Sundqvist was plus-37 in 39 regular season games as Skelleftea finished third in Allsvenskan North and his 129 penalty minutes were second-most on the team. Skelleftea reached the U18 finals and in seven playoff games Sundqvist scored 5 goals with 5 assists and was plus-seven with 14 penalty minutes. Not among the 120 European skaters identified as prospects in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft, he was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (81st overall).

 

Talent Analysis

A tall, rangy forward with a nasty on-ice disposition and offensive talent to spare, Oskar Sundqvist brings a unique package of skills to the center position. Having played in the lower levels of Swedish junior hockey, Sundqvist's upside is largely still unknown. However, given his size, skating, and offensive skills, he could one day develop into an effective two-way center.

Considering the first time he played on a North American ice surface was at the Pittsburgh Penguins developmental camp in July 2012, it is safe to say Sundqvist is very much a long-term project. Aside from learning how to play on a smaller rink, he must add considerable weight and strength to his frame, possibly as much as 20 or 30 pounds. He also needs to develop more explosiveness and cut back on dumb, retaliatory penalties.

 

Future

Sundqvist will likely spend the majority of the 2012-13 season playing in the SEL for Skelleftea.

 

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