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Oskar Magnusson Scouting Report: 2020 NHL Draft #111

Oskar Magnusson

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 2020 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 look at Oskar Magnusson.

Swedish forward Oskar Magnusson had an excellent season in the Swedish SuperElit, the countries’ top junior hockey league. Playing in the Malmo Redhawks system, Magnusson put up 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points in 38 games this season. He also played one game in the J18 Allsvenskan, scoring one goal and one assist. Magnusson also had the opportunity to make his debut in the countries’ top men’s league. He played four SHL games but is still looking for his first SHL point. Magnusson also played for the Under-18 Swedish Team. He won a bronze medal at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Overall, Magnusson played 13 games with the national Under-18 Team scoring two goals and four assists for six points.

Magnusson split the 2018-19 season between the Under-18 and Under-20 leagues. He captained the Malmo Under-18 team. Magnusson scored nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points at the younger level. At the Under-20 level, Magnusson put up eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 34 games. He played two playoff games but was held off the scoresheet. Magnusson played six games at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, recording one assist and winning a silver medal.

Oskar Magnusson Scouting Report

Left Wing — shoots Left
Born January 31st, 2002 — Trelleborg, Sweden
Height 5’10” — Weight 165 lbs [179 cm/75 kg]

Skating

Magnusson’s skating is a bit of a work in progress. He is not a bad skater by any means, but he lacks the elite skating skill that would help him to overcome his lack of size. Magnusson has good but not great speed. His acceleration is above average and his first few steps are also decent but not remarkable. Magnusson has good edgework and agility. He gets around the ice well enough and away from defenders with his smarts. However, if he were more explosive it would take his game to the next level. Magnusson has a low centre of gravity. This helps him to maintain his balance and fight through checks. It also helps him win battles for loose pucks along the boards and in front of the net.

Offensive Game

Magnusson is a very smart player. He keeps his head up while carrying the puck and sees the ice extremely well. He anticipates where his teammates are headed and can find them with a pass through a tight passing lane. His strong stickhandling skills allow him to make plays in one-on-one situations and open up passing lanes. Magnusson also carries the puck effectively though the neutral zone, generating successful zone entries. He is also very good on the power play, where he is able to quarterback the play from the boards.

Magnusson can also be an effective goal scorer. His quick hands allow him to vary the angle on his release and fool goaltenders with the way the puck leaves his stick. His shot is also powerful and accurate. He can get to the net and fight for position. Magnusson’s quick hands can pounce on rebounds as well as deflect in a teammate’s shot. He is relentless in puck pursuit when his team does not have it. Magnusson is an effective forechecker, pressuring defenders into making turnovers and creating scoring chances.

Defensive Game

Magnusson brings his high energy level at both ends of the ice. He takes good angles against the rush and brings effective backpressure, forcing attackers to make plays too soon or cut to the outside. He also works hard in battles down low, fighting for loose pucks and defending the cycle game. Magnusson reads the play well and anticipates where the puck is going. He gets himself in a position to cut down passing lanes and steal loose pucks. While he will need to improve his size and strength going forward, his quick stick also helps him to steal the puck from opponents.

Projection and Comparison

Magnusson has the skills to be a middle-six winger at the next level. He has played both centre and wing in Malmo but given his lack of size as well as his average skating, he projects as a winger at the next level. Malmo will need to get stronger and work on his skating in order to make the jump to the NHL. If he can improve those areas, his high level-skill, high effort level as well as his two-way play will be valuable to his team. Magnusson’s game is reminiscent of Victor Arvidsson but this is a stylistic comparison only and not one based on skill and potential.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Oskar Magnusson that are available on youtube and twitter.

https://twitter.com/JokkeNevalainen/status/1227305325692432384

https://twitter.com/JokkeNevalainen/status/1227316070853357569

https://twitter.com/JokkeNevalainen/status/1227323928357502976

Check back tomorrow for the next prospect on our draft board.

 

Oskar Magnusson Main Photo:

Ben Kerr

Ben Kerr

Ben is a credentialed sports writer from just outside Toronto, Canada. A lawyer, he has a highly analytical approach to writing. Ben is the COO of Last Word On Sports INC. Most of his writing can be found in the hockey department, though he follows and writes on other sports as well.

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