Bruins draft Fabian Lysell with pick No. 21
The Boston Bruins selected forward Fabian Lysell with the 21st overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Fabian Lysell
Position: Right wing
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 172 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Lulea (Sweden)
Nationality: Swedish
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
There's more than meets the eye when looking at Lysell's stats with the SHL's Lulea HF in 2020-21. Prior to making a midseason move to Sweden's highest division of professional hockey, the typically flashy forward thrived at the junior level with Frolunda, putting up 13 points over 11 games.
At 18 years old, Lysell was far below the average age of 26 at Lulea, so his minutes were limited as he played about 7:22 per game. However, he finished strong at the U18 worlds, returning to form with three goals and six assists over seven contests.
The dynamic, quick, and skilled winger has produced one of the most impressive highlight packages in the draft, but Lysell will need to learn how to adjust his style of play after not dazzling as much in the SHL.
NHL Central Scouting slotted Lysell ninth among European skaters in its final rankings.
What they're saying
"... (Lysell) beats defenders consistently with his puckhandling displays," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman. "That he’s a great skater, with both good speed and edgework and can make very skilled plays at full flight, makes him a handful to defend."
Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino hails Lysell as one of the most skilled players in the 2021 class, but "also one of the most inconsistent."
Pronman also touched on Lysell's limitations, noting that his "physical effort comes and goes off the puck."
"In a sentence, Lysell projects as a second-line winger who has the talent to dominate an NHL shift but may frustrate observers too," Pronman wrote.