Ht/Wt: 6' 4"/200 lbs
Position: LHD
Team: HV71

Malte Gustafsson's Player Profile

Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - April 14th: " His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. A lack of flash and high-end offensive instinct likely won’t help his draft projection, but there’s still a ton to like about the way he defends and takes up space."

Will Scouch - Scouching.ca - April 13th: "My shakiest viewings of him came outside the SHL oddly enough, with some skill issues controlling the puck and dealing with pressure, but once he got challenged in the best league in Europe, he really came alive. In terms of projectable defending, leading with stick checking and positioning, fading into physical pressure and separating bodies from the puck, Gustafsson might be the best at it in this class."

Dauton Reimer - The Hockey Writers - March 25th: "He’s not much of a rush defender, looking to carry the puck into the offensive zone, but he moves well across the ice and places himself in the right places to prevent breakouts, using his large frame and long reach to stop an opponent in his tracks. He could add a bit more physicality, but there aren’t many things to critique in his game right now, which is a great sign."

Scott Wheeler - The Athletic - March 17th: "Gustafsson’s game isn't about his offense despite having some elements (above-average skating and respectable handling for a big man). He’s a big, rangy, strong, sturdy defender who plays a physical, competitive brand and moves well. He projects as a solid two-way NHL D, and his profile is the coveted one in the league these days."

Jason Bukala - Sportsnet - March 17th: "He has a presence to his game. Gustafsson isn’t shy about engaging physically and pushing opponents off his crease to clear shooting lanes for his goaltender to see pucks clearly. He’s also capable of occasionally rushing the puck and pulling up to make plays in the offensive zone."

Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - March 13th: "Gustafsson is a 6-foot-4 defender who has gotten into some decent SHL action this year. His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone."

Peter Baracchini - The Hockey Writers - March 10th: "His defensive game is just as effective as it can prove to be a handful for attackers, keeping them to the outside and taking any time and space away. He’s extremely agile and smart with the puck, making the safe plays on breakouts and shows great control and skills in the offensive zone."

Smaht Scouting - February 27th: "Defensively he’s still been more or less the same player, showing solid gap control, an active stick in the defensive zone, quick and accurate transition passing, and strong habits when battling for pucks along the boards. Although his game is still quite simple in most ways and he’s still a high floor defenseman, he is starting to show more and more potential to play higher in an NHL lineup in the future as his draft year continues."

Tony Ferrari - The Hockey News - February 23rd: "On top of having excellent positional play with a great stick, he's added a physical element that helps him win battles in the corners. His passing on the breakout has always been solid, but he's added a layer of puck carrying to his transition game."

Malte Gustafsson's Stats

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