Pontus Aberg
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Birthday:
1993-09-23 |
Position:
LW |
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Eligible for draft:
2012 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
2012 |
Height:
5-11 |
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Acquired:
2nd round (37th overall), 2012 |
Weight:
187 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- C
History
2009-10: Pontus Aberg played in 11 games for Djurgardens in the SuperElit (U20) league and skated for the the club in Allsvenskan and Elit league play at the U18 level. He represented Sweden at the 2010 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Aberg had 1 assist with 4 penalty minutes in Super Elit play. In 19 Allsvenskan games (including five playoff contests), Aberg was the team's leading scorer with 11 goals and 23 assists. In 22 Elit games he scored 22 goals with 17 assists. On the bronze medal-winning U17 WHC team, which featured NHL first-rounders Mika Zibanejad and Oscar Klefbom, Aberg scored 2 goals and had 4 penalty minutes in six games.
2010-11: Aberg made his Elitserien debut, dressing in one game for Djurgardens, while spending most of the season with the club's U20 squad. In 4 games with the U20 team he scored 13 goals with 17 assists and was plus-11 with 16 penalty minutes as Djurgardens was the top team in the North Division. In four playoff games he scored 2 goals with 3 assists and was an even plus/minus for bronze medal-winning Djurgardens. Aberg also skated for Djurgardens silver medal-winning U18 team. In 11 games (including three playoff contests) he scored 11 goals with 9 assists and 29 penalty minutes.
2011-12: Aberg skated in 47 Elitserien league games as an 18-year-old and was one of four finalists for the league's Rookie of the Year award. One of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for the club, Aberg averaged 11:33 of ice time per game. He scored 8 goals with 7 assists and was minus-3 with 6 penalty minutes. Aberg skated in seven of ten games during the relegation playoffs which saw Djurgardens demoted to Allsvenskan for 2012-13. He scored one goal and was an even plus/minus in limited ice time. Aberg played seven games for Djurgardens U20 (including one playoff game) and scored 5 goals with 2 assists. Aberg was rated sixth among European skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.
Talent Analysis
Aberg is a really speedy player with some high calibre offensive skills. The two-way winger has good hockey sense, passes the puck well and possesses a hard accurate shot. He has good one-on-one ability which can be a challenge for the defense and gets pucks off of his stick quickly in tight areas. The offensively skilled forward has a good work ethic, competes hard but has some consistency issues and needs to get stronger to play along the boards against bigger, more physical men.
Future
Aberg will continue his overall development in Europe over next two years as the Predators' second round pick is under contract with Djurgården until 2014-15 season. He hopes to play the whole season in the Allsvenskan league and should have the opportunity to help Sweden defend its gold medal at the 2013 WJC tournament.
