Jonas Brodin – NHL Draft Profile
2011 Scouting Reports | 6 Jun 201123. LD Jonas Brodin – Farjestad (SEL)
DOB: Jul. 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 165lbs
Midterm Rank: 43 | League Rank: 4th SEL | Country Rank: 5th Sweden
Farjestad’s Jonas Brodin has been a steady riser this season as the reliable 17-year-old defenseman has shown strong consistency playing in Sweden’s top professional league. Stature is not an issue for Brodin; although the wiry defender will certainly need to bulk up moving forward, but there is no disputing that Brodin has established himself as a very safe option for teams in the 20-30 range this year.
Brodin made the jump to the SEL this season alongside fellow draft eligible defenseman Oscar Klefbom as the two eventually became steady defenders for the squad and helped to lead Farjestad to the 2011 league title. Brodin won’t strike you as an overly dynamic defenseman and is the type of player you don’t really notice on the ice, which says a lot about how smart he is with the puck. A strong skater, Brodin has good lateral ability and can buy himself the time he needs to find a passing lane. He makes good decisions with the puck and uses outlets well; instead of just hammering the puck out of the glass, and doesn’t get caught in flux very often.
On the surface, there isn’t too much to nitpick at with Brodin’s game, but if you really break down his game the concern centers around a lack of high-end upside. The Swede is certainly steady, there’s no arguing that, but does he have what it takes to be an impact defenseman in the NHL? That’s a big question that will likely prevent him from going inside the Top 20 as the answer right now would probably have to be, No.
Brodin has shown offensive ability but doesn’t do it on a consistent enough basis to really entice scouts into buying into the untapped upside. He’s also not as physically strong as you would want out of a defenseman that can log heavy minutes in all situations. These are areas of his game that could develop in time, but right now we feel (like most) that Brodin doesn’t quite have the physical upside that his teammate Oscar Klefbom does, and his lack of a dominant quality will be an area that could hold him back from justifying a higher pick in the first round.
With that being said, Brodin is still a highly mobile defenseman that will provide a team with a steady puck-mover who could have some untapped potential left in the well; certainly not a bad option for any team picking in the 20s.
Pros: Speed, Mobility, Decision Making, Positioning on the rush and in defensive zone coverage
Cons: Lack of strength, Questions about offensive upside
Skill-set Comparison: Andrew MacDonald
Tags: 2011 nhl draft prospects, Jonas Brodin, Scouting Report
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