NHL Draft: 5 Forwards New Jersey Devils Could Draft With 29th Pick

Oskar Olausson

2020-21 Stats: 16 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, 2 PIMs
League: SHL
Team: HV71

Oskar Olausson is a player that has been more regularly available when the Devils pick at 29th overall in many mock drafts. He played half of this season in Swedish juniors and the other half in the SHL. He played for HV71, who had a terrible season and was actually relegated from the main leagues and they will play in HockeyAllsvenskan next season. It’s the first time in 36 years that this happened to HV71.

Obviously, that can’t be blamed on Olausson, but it could impact a team’s decision to draft him since he will be playing against lesser competition next season. For the most part, however, the teams should look at Olausson as a player.

Teams are going to go after centers and defensemen in the 1st round, which will make Olausson, a right winger, fall down the draft a little bit. Olausson has a good combination of skills that can lead to offense. He can drive the puck towards the net with ease, and he tends to have an easy time entering the zone. His shot and ability to create space sometimes look elite, which could see teams draft him earlier, but there’s a good chance other players get drafted higher despite Olausson’s ranking.

The Devils would love to have Olausson as a project. He could provide secondary scoring for a team that will need it in a few years. The Devils prospect pool is full of complete players who aren’t great at one thing or the other, but Olausson brings a scoring touch the team could use. He needs to grow next season into his 6’2 frame, but that’s expected for a player his age. If Olausson is available at 29, it will be hard for the Devils to say no.