Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2021 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Fabian Lysell Scouting Report.
Swedish winger Fabian Lysell has spent most of the season in a bottom-line role for Lulea HF in the SHL. Playing against men, the 17-year-old put up just two goals and an assist for three points in 26 games this year. However, he has done a lot better playing against his own age group. In 11 games in the J20 league, Lysell scored three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. He is currently playing for Team Sweden in the IIHF Under-18 World Championships. Lysell has put up three goals and four assists for seven points in five tournament games. He recently helped the Swedes upset the host American team in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
In 2019-20 he bounced around the Swedish junior leagues. In 11 games in the J20, he put up one goal and five assists for six points. He was incredible in the J18 league, putting up 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points in 18 games. Lysell also played for Sweden in the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge scoring five goals and two assists for seven points in five tournament games.
Fabian Lysell Scouting Report
Right Wing — shoots Right
Born January 19th, 2003 — Goteberg, Sweden
Height 5’10” — Weight 172 lbs [179 cm/78 kg]
Skating
Lysell is one of the best skaters in this year’s draft. He has a very good first step and excellent acceleration. When there is an opening in the defence, Lysell is lightning quick, getting past his man and into an area to create a scoring chance. His top-end speed is also excellent. Lysell can take a defenceman to the outside and cut to the front of the net. His agility and edgework are also outstanding. He is able to make quick cuts and changes in direction. This, combined with his ability to change speeds, makes him very dangerous on the rush. Lysell needs to add muscle to his lower body though. He can sometimes be pushed off the puck a bit too easily. Increased core strength would improve his balance as well as his ability to win battles on the boards.
Offensive Game
Lysell pairs his outstanding skating with excellent puck handling skills. He can handle the puck and make plays while moving at top speed. This makes him very good in transition. Lysell’s skating and stickhandling ability generate odd-man rushes and effective zone entries. His stickhandling also helps him to slow the game down and protect the puck in the offensive zone. He cycles the puck well, giving his teammates time to get open and when they do he can hit them with a pass to create a scoring chance. Lysell has excellent vision. His quick hands change angles for the puck and create passing lanes. He also has the skill to make a pass through a tight area to a teammate. Lysell is good on the power play, directing traffic from the half wall.
While he is more of a playmaking winger than a shooter, Lysell can score goals as well. He has a quick and deceptive release on his wrist shot. His quick hands help him to change the angle on his shot and fool goaltenders. Lysell could have a stronger shot though. As it is he will need to be in close to beat NHL-level goaltenders. This could happen with increased strength though. Getting stronger will also help him to win battles along the boards and to establish his position in front of the net.
Defensive Game
Lysell’s defensive game is also very advanced for his age. He backchecks hard and supports the defence down low. While his lack of size and strength makes him vulnerable to bigger and stronger opponents, he mitigates this somewhat with a quick stick that is good at stealing the puck off of an opponent. He also does a good job of getting his stick into passing lanes and creating turnovers. Once those turnovers are created, he is very good at transitioning up the ice and creating odd-man rushes. Lysell is also strong positionally. He does a good job of staying between his man and the front of the net, forcing opponents to the outside and away from dangerous positions.
Projection and Comparison
Lysell projects as a possible first-line winger in the NHL. His advanced defensive game and the fact that he has already been playing against men mean that he may be NHL ready quickly. However, he likely needs to spend at least one more season in Sweden, getting stronger and producing offence in the SHL. He should also be an important part of the Swedish team at next year’s World Junior Championships. Lysell’s game is reminiscent of Mitch Marner. This is a stylistic comparison only though, not one based on skill and potential.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Fabian Lysell that are available on youtube.
Check back tomorrow for our next draft article.
Main Photo:
🇸🇪 With the 30th overall selection in the 2020 @CHLHockey Import Draft, the Vancouver Giants are pleased to select #2021NHLDraft prospect Fabian Lysell, a 2003-born forward from Göteborg, SWE. 🇸🇪
Fabian Lysell’s @eliteprospects profile: https://t.co/Sqc4CQbTX8
More to come! pic.twitter.com/dpK0NcRTan
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) June 30, 2020
