Hurricanes pick Swedish defenseman Jesper Sellgren in 6th Round

With the 166th overall pick in the draft, the Canes selected Jesper Sellgren, an overage defensemen from Sweden. Born in 1998 and two years senior to most of the players in this year’s draft, Sellgren has been described as a smooth but not speedy two-way defensemen who can join the rush and exercise his above average passing ability. He will need to bulk up significantly in order to play in North America as he stands at 5’10” and 170 pounds.

He has played for Modo Hockey, a club in Sweden’s second-tier league, since 2012, and has played on the Swedish U20 team. In 43 games with Modo Hockey last season, he scored three goals and tallied nine assists on the blueline.

Sellgren is slotted to join Lulea HF in the SHL next season.

Scouting Analysis

Sellgren is an overage blueliner built in the mold of a Tobias Enstrom type. He’s a puck mover first and showed well in the World Juniors this year. He’s undersized, but skilled as a fluid skater who is two years ahead of his peers at this point in his development. In terms of upside, he’s a bit limited because of his advanced age. - Kevin LeBlanc

Tony’s Take

Hurricanes scouting director Tony MacDonald:

He’s a pretty good player on the World Junior team. A puck-moving defenseman and the kind of a guy that fits today’s style of game. He’s skilled, he’s quick, he can go back and get the puck and make the first pass. He’s a pretty good player on the power play, smart and can distribute the puck. He’s not a real big guy, but he’s big enough by today’s standards. The kind of defenseman that fits in today’s game. That’s where everybody’s going now. You have people who can skate and can move the puck; size is one thing, but if you can’t skate it doesn’t help.