Defenseman Hedman from Sweden is likely No. 1 draft pick

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Sweden's Victor Hedman, left, has another likely first-round draft pick John Tavares of Canada wrapped up. By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Although Swedish talent long has been an NHL staple, nearly two decades have passed since Mats Sundin became the only Swedish No. 1 overall draft pick. He might lose that distinction next summer because Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman is expected to be chosen first in June. The NHL Central Scouting preliminary rankings, released Tuesday, list Hedman only as the top player in Sweden, but scouts have been raving about the 6-6 player for two years "Hedman is viewed as a Chris Pronger-type defenseman and you are going to be pretty happy if you get him," said Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill. USA Hockey's Jim Johannson, who has watched Hedman play internationally for a couple years, calls him "the full package." "He can play all aspects of the game and is showing more offensive ability in the past year," Johannson said. "He moves well and he has polished his game." He views him as a mixture of Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and the Anaheim Ducks' Pronger. "He lacks the pure offensive ability of Lidstrom and he doesn't have the toughness of Pronger, but it's impressive to be in between those two guys," he said. Much-talked-about John Tavares, a high-scoring forward, is the top-ranked player from the Ontario Hockey League, and two big defensemen are tops in the Western Hockey and Quebec Major Junior Hockey leagues. Jared Cowan, 6-5, from Spokane of the WHL, could land right behind Hedman and Tavares. Simon Depres, 6-3, of Saint John, is expected to go in the middle of the first round. NCAA players are broken down as A, B or C prospects and the only A prospect is University of Minnesota center Jordan Schroeder. He or center Jeremy Morin of the U.S. National Team Development Program could be the first U.S.-born player chosen. Morin is a goal scorer — "possibly the best pure goal scorer in this age category in the world," Johannson said — and Schroeder is known for his playmaking. "His hockey IQ is extremely high," Ron Rolston, who will be the U.S. national junior team coach this season, said of Schroeder. "He's probably more of a playmaker, but he can score goals. He can do it all for you." Original here