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NHL Entry Draft: David Rundblad profile (St. Louis Blues, 17th overall)

"His upside is tremendous. Can dominate a PP with his rushing ability or shot. This slick puck moving d-man has emerged as a legitimate first round candidate for the 2009 NHL Entry draft. The team that drafts him will do so with one thing in mind – to generate offense."

-- From the David Rundblad profile in International Scouting Services' ISS 2009 NHL Draft Guide, p. 35. More after the jump.

DAVID RUNDBLAD

David Rundblad Sweden Rundblad sweater

Player Pos Sht Height Weight Birthdate Birthplace Season Club (League) GP G A Pts PIM
RUNDBLAD, David D R 6-02 189 03-19-91 Lycksele, Sweden 2008-09 Skellefteå AIK (SEL) 45 0 10 10 2
Skellefteå AIK (J20) 10 8 7 15 2
Skellefteå AIK (SEL) Playoff 10 1 1 2 2
2007-08 Skellefteå AIK (SEL) 6 0 0 0 2
Skellefteå AIK (J20) 35 11 15 26 44
Skellefteå AIK (J18) 4 3 2 5 29
Skellefteå AIK (J20) Playoff 2 1 3 4 6
2006-07 Skellefteå AIK (J20) 14 3 4 7 12
Skellefteå AIK (J18) 4 1 1 2 0
Skellefteå AIK (J20) Playoff 2 0 0 0 2

 

Rundblad was, as regular readers will note, one of the "Game Time Silver Seven" identified by your GTPD as potential Blues' targets in the first round. We honestly believed that the Blues would go with offense, meaning a forward, with this pick, but the selection of a blue-chip offensive-minded defenseman also fills a long-term organizational need.

The selection of Rundblad sets the Blues up for a blueline in the not-too-distant future consisting of:

Erik Johnson

Alex Pietrangelo

Ian Cole

Roman Pola'k

Carlo Coliacovo (the only player on this list NOT drafted by the Blues)

Barret Jackman

David Rundblad

We at the GTPD would take that blueline into battle right now; give all of these players another couple of years to mature and develop, and that has the potential to be one of the best defenses in the NHL.

The ISS Final rankings had Rundblad at 22nd overall, and as the second-best right defenseman in the draft, behind only Windsor's Ryan Ellis, who went at 11th overall to Nashville. ISS further ranked Rundblad as the fifth-best European available in the draft, and three of the four players ranked above him (Victor Hedman, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson) were indeed chosen ahead of Rundblad; only Jacob Josefson (ranked fourth-best Euro by ISS) was not chosen ahead of Rundblad, and he went three picks after Rundblad to New Jersey.

Rundblad Scouting Notes

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=5598&tab=scr

NHL Central Scouting Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb:

"He has a very good shot. He is a right-handed shot and he is used on the power play, even in the (Elite) League despite being a young player. He is a very smart player. He could be a little more physical in his game, but that is something that he is learning."

International Scouting Services:

Report Card

Size/Strength: Good

Skating: Very Good

Puck Skills: Excellent

Shot: Very Good

Offensive Play: Excellent

Defensive Play: Average

Physical Play: Average

Competitiveness: Good

Hockey Sense: Very Good

Strengths:

1. Offensive Instincts

2. Shot

3. Puck Handling

Areas For Improvement:

1. Risk-taking decisions

2. Defensive Coverage

3. Physical Play

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