(Photo Courtesy of Providence Bruins / Flickr)
By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter: @TimARichardson
I am continuing my prospect season review with a player I like a lot, Oskar Steen. The Swedish forward was drafted in the sixth-round, 165th overall in the 2016 NHL draft. The 2019-2020 season Steen’s first in North America. He was coming off a breakout season with Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League that saw him net 17 goals while dishing out 20 assists for 37 total points in 46 games played (stats courtesy of EliteProspects). Let’s dive into his 2019-2020 season and see how he did as a rookie.
Steen would start the season on a positive note netting a goal while dishing out one assist for two total points in his first three games (stats courtesy of the AHL). The young forward would then go on a bit of a cold streak for much of the season. However, Steen would start to figure it out and had a fantastic final 19 games of the season. In those 19 games, he would net three goals while dishing out nine assists for 12 total points (stats courtesy of the AHL). The Swedish forward would end up having a good season overall. In 60 games, he netted seven goals while dishing out 16 assists for 23 total points (stats courtesy of EliteProspects).
Steen had the type of rookie season you can build on going forward. That’s all we could ask for in his first season on North American ice. The young center also displayed some integral parts of his game this year. One of those things was his intelligence on the ice. He’s able to read and react to a play quickly. It’s impressive for a young player to have that ability. He also proved to be a versatile player. He can play center as well as play wing. This is going to bode well for him moving forward with his development.
Steen was also able to show off his speed this season. He accelerates quickly and can move up and down the ice well. Finally, Steen is a good passer. He can see the passing lanes well, and get the puck where it needs to go. The young center also has a motor that doesn’t quit. He’s always moving on the ice. What happens next for the native of Sweden? I believe he will end up playing most if not all of next season in the AHL with Providence. While he had a successful first season, he still needs to gain some consistency in his game. I do think he will push for a roster spot in 2021-2022.
Oskar Steen may end up being the steal of the 2016 draft. He’s the type of player that could end up being a middle-six forward for many years to come. I’d expect Steen to be part of the next crop of young core players coming through the system. He’s going to be exciting to watch for a long time. I hope everyone is staying safe. Feel free to send me any questions or comments on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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