Player Information
Team: AIK J20 (J20 SuperElit)
Nationality: Swedish
Position: Centre/Left Wing
Date of birth: August 30, 2002
Height and Weight: 6’1″ / 163 lbs
Introduction
Son of former NHL veteran and Swedish legend Dick Tärnström, Oliver definitely boasts good blood stocks. Tärnström spent the best part of the season with AIK in the J20 SuperElit (34 points in 41 games) and also nabbed some shifts through eight games with the Allsvenskan team as well. He didn’t impact immensely in his draft year on the international stage, in part due to a strong forward core and age but I think that is all about to change.
I am a huge Tärnström fan and I’m not afraid to say it. Given he should see adequate time with the big club this season and see more chances at an international level, expect great things for next season.
Player Assessment
In each of my player assessments, you will find four categories that I evaluate each prospect on:
- Mind – The way in which a player processes and sees the game.
- Movement – The way in which a player moves and drives play with or without the puck.
- Mechanics – Hands and skating technique.
- Motor – How they apply themselves shift to shift, what “compete levels” they show.
I’ll go through each category, explaining the key strengths and weakness for each individual prospect.
Mind
Tärnström offensively is as dangerous and aware as anyone outside of my top 50 ranking spots. The way he is able to read the play offensively and be that half a step ahead of opposing defenders is something that his game doesn’t garner enough credit for and is his biggest strength in terms of how he thinks the game through. Often he is the primary puck mover but when off the puck, he is constantly processing and thinking where he needs to be and most importantly, WHY. Often primary puck movers can be all at sea off the puck and when they have space around them, they don’t actually know what to do with it all.
Tärnström is unpredictable and sometimes surprising when in space but in a brutally effective manner. He simply warrants the puck, placing himself in areas that demand usage. Tärnström never stays still in any zone. He is always grinding, using all of his slight(ish) frame and skating ability to battle through checks to get to where the puck will be. Often he will receive the puck and show off his slick poise in order to find an appropriate passing seam, gap in the defense or shooting chance. Defensively Tärnström is just as spry. He uses the same set of instincts to read where the puck will be, often setting himself up in positions to set-up fast counters or at minimum, getting into the passing lanes to stea pucks and disrupt play.
Here is just an example of Tärnström displaying those very traits I mentioned, in all three zones.
When it comes to having it between the ears, Tärnström displays sound hockey senses, he just gets hockey. There isn’t a spot on the ice (in possession or otherwise) that he can’t get to to make you pay.
Movement
In terms of movement (as mentioned before), Tärnström doesn’t shy away from being actively involved in all three zones. Electric on the puck, Tärnström is a high octane play-driving threat. He’s constantly flying through the neutral zone looking to do damage, his skates are churning like a duck dancing on a hot plate.
On a team not as laden with talent such as Frölunda or Malmö, he was tasked with a heavier individual offensive role this season and didn’t dissapoint. When you talk about the 2020 prospect class and those who have game breaking talent and that killer instinct, Tärnström has to be in the conversation. He pushes the pace and sets the tempo for his line by way of a fluid transition game and can break games open and finish them with end-to-end brilliance.
Not only does he possess highlight reel solo talents, he also does the routine things well and at times makes it look darn easy.
The passing grade with Tärnström is easily an A. Whether it be at even strength or a man-up, he is a more than capable of making crisp tape-to-tape passes, usually of the back of aggresive attacking movements and smart positioning. This kind of movement (passing) is his secondary option. He’s a puck handler first, distributor second but he’s just so clean you can hardly call one superior.
He is a puck hound defensively and moves well in the defensive cycle. He’s got a really good sense of angles and in accompany, uses his speed and stick to shut off passing lanes, under-cut attackers on their inside shoulder and force play away from dangerous areas. Positioning is not a problem whatsoever, in any facet of play.
In terms of his movements, they are both desirable and translatable. The pace of play, intent and ability is all there. What’s not to like?
Mechanics
When we look at Tärnström, the skating itself is very strong and is the standout. He has a clean stride with strong posture coupled with solid distribution. He glides over the ice with ease and doesn’t require much space out there as he has great two-step separation and deft edgework, which sees him have that escability and leg drive to be both a dangerous lateral and north/south skater. He can also stop on a dime and also has a clean curl.
There is some added weight to come, his balance and base strength is just fine for junior age but in order to burst through holes at the next level it will require substantially more lower leg strength one would assume.
In regards to his hands, much like his skating (as you probably have already noted), is very tidy. He is able to deke his way in and around defenders, has great touch on his passes and has very purposeful direct movements when utilising his stick. It’s as much as being confident as it is skill when it comes to making those movements. The touch, the in-tight elusiveness and stick defence are all purposeful; bred from confidence in his skill which you gotta love.
In regards to his shot, he has a really nice extension which creates alot of zing upon release, pivotal for someone of a lighter stature. He boasts good accuracy too, his ability to shoot in stride with weight catches alot of goalies and defenders off-guard. In close, he gets shots off quickly and can elevate the puck with little time or space, forehand or backhand. I’d say he’s got more to come in terms of power too when he builds on his frame as he develops. Remember readers, he’s an August birthday so time is on his side.
Here are two clips that show some nifty hands and skating ability, resulting in Tärnström lighting the lamp twice.
Motor
In terms of motor, Tärnström gives you whatever he has 110% of the time. Although there isn’t a strong physical element, he still engages when necessary and has a propensity to win every battle he’s in. He doesn’t seem to go deep defensively to recover pucks a whole lot nor dig into the dirty areas, but you have to absorb the context here.
Tärnström is the most dynamic player on his team who just happens to be a breakout and open ice specialist. Tärnström isn’t a Blake Coleman/Pat Maroon type, he is a beneficiary of those style of players. However there will be more expectations in terms of physicality at a higher level, but there is a natural maturation process still underway.
Rankings
#178- Future Considerations
#165- McKeen’s Hockey
#112- RecruitScouting
Conclusion
Oliver Tärnström for me projects as a middle-six, goal scoring winger at the next level. He has great vision as a centre, but his faceoff work and overall defensive aspects are still questionable as translatable centre skills at NHL level.
Oliver Tärnström is my 65th ranked prospect for the 2020 NHL Draft.
You can find a bunch of Oliver’s advanced stats and 149 more ranked prospect’s stats and evaluations on my twitter: @AshGloverHockey