He's No Nazim Kadri Or Luke Schenn, But Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson Is An Alright Prospect

3-2-5 in 6 games, not the most impressive stats line that you'll ever see, but when you consider that it's the stats line of an 18 year old in the Swedish Elite League, it is an INCREDIBLE stats line. Entering today's game MPS as Oilers fans call him (what an original nickname from those wannabee Torontonians) was the team leader in points and was tied for the team lead with 2 goals.

Paajarvi-Svennson has a chance to challenge Nicklas Backstrom for the best 18 year old season in the SEL by a first round pick since Backstrom posted season totals of 12-28-40 in 45 games back in '06-07. Prior to that you have to go back to the Sedins 18 year old seasons where they put up 47 and 45 points respectively in 50 games all the way back in '99-00.

We're not talking run of the mill bums for company here. Hell even Anze Kopitar, star of the LA Kings "only" had 20 points in 47 games in the SEL before posting 61 points in 72 games the very next season in the NHL. Needless to say, if MPS keeps up his play, he could very well be a Calder Trophy front runner next season if he makes the trek overseas.

Like I said he's no Kadri or L. Schenn, but he's probably pretty good.

The Next One, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson

Whether Rob Schremp sinks or swims, his days as an Oilers prospect are just about over. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson is the anti Schremp and that could very well be what has me liking the kid so much.

No more wondering if the guy that I'm rooting for has been working on his speed, MPS is a freaking missile out there with both high top end speed and explosive acceleration. No more looking at a numbers game because of so many diminutive forwards on the team, MPS has NHL size to him already as an eighteen year old.

Like every prospect there are knocks on MPS, but this time around it won't be the same ones that plagued my reigning favorite prospect. While he may not have the same stickhandling wizardry or the same onetimer or slapper, MPS is a deft playmaker and can create his own chances due to his speed and creativity.

At this point in time he is THE guy that I pin the potential franchise prospect label onto. If not him, maybe Petry, but he is the odds on favorite and he will be in my sights this season, I certainly won't be touting him as a shoo-in for a spot, it's funny how we learn from what has been done in the past and has backfired!

However when he's ready, I fully expect him to be an impact player for us. I'm just not going to say whether that's next season, the season after, or even later! Unless of course that is if he ends up with 30+ points this season in the SEL and leads the WJC's in scoring, then all bets are off ;)