Avalanche selects Swedish forward Oskar Olausson with 28th pick in NHL draft – The Denver Post

More than three hours after the NHL began Friday night, the Avalanche finally made its first-round pick and chose Swedish forward Oskar Olausson at No. 28.

Olausson, 18, played for two professional leagues in Sweden last season, producing a combined six goals and 10 points in 27 games. He also played juniors for HV 71 Jr., where he contributed 27 points (14 goals) in 16 games.

“He fits our identity. We’re a team where, obviously, speed and skating and is a big piece for us,” Avs director of amateur scouting Wade Klippenstein said of Olausson. “Very good skater. Big body. Can score, shoot the puck. Just a lot of checkmarks with Oscar.”

Standing 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Olausson was ranked 13th among European skaters by Central Scouting.

“Really good city (Denver) and a good team I want to play with,” Olausson said in Zoom conference call from Plymouth, Mich., where Finland’s World Junior team is beginning a showcase. “I think my game will fit in with that team so it’s going to be very fun to play and I can’t wait.”

“Olausson’s skating posture allows him to effortless maneuvers through opponents with his top hand in full control, pushed out from his body. You’ll rarely see Olausson attempt the same neutral zone rush twice in the same game. He’ll cross the dotted line, change lanes and speed, and work well-timed weight shifts as a puck-carrier to get past the defender opposite him.” — Elite Prospects 2021 NHL Draft Guide

Olausson represented his country at the 2021 World Junior Championship, going scoreless in four games. He also helped Sweden to a bronze medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring a goal in five games.

Olausson, who said he plans on playing in his homeland next season, is the second Swede drafted by the Avalanche in the first round, following forward Jonas Johansson in 2002.

“I’m very happy. (The Avalanche), it’s a very good team for me to come to,” Olausson said. “Feels so good and I can’t explain it.”

Olausson was ranked 29th overall by draft guru Craig Button of TSN, and 32nd by TSN colleague Bob McKenzie. He was ranked as high as 14th (Elite Prospects).

“We had him a lot higher from where we ended up picking him,” Klippenstein said. “It was a little nerve-wracking as our list was shrinking quickly. It was a night where we expected maybe a little more chaos with our list and it was actually pretty tight but we were fortunate to get him. Again, he was a lot higher than where we took him.”

Two highly ranked incoming University of Denver defensemen were not selected Friday. Shai Buium and Sean Behrens were ranked 20th and 24th, respectively, among North American skaters, and will likely be selected early on Saturday.

Rounds 2-7 of the draft are Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. MT, and the Avs have three selections — a second, a third, and a seventh.

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