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University of Maine right wing Gustav Nyquist’s elusiveness on the smaller, NHL-sized rink has given the Detroit Red Wings — who selected him 121st in the 2008 NHL Draft — satisfaction in their middle round find.
The sophomore from Malmo, Sweden, balanced the adjustment to a new culture, academic demands and 15 fewer feet to work with than on the Olympic-sized sheet played on overseas and emerged as an elite scorer and playmaker in the Hockey East Conference, frequently labeled the strongest Division 1 college hockey league in the country.
“He’s so elusive that he’s difficult to check,” UMaine coach Tim Whitehead said. “I think he’s a much more effective player on the NHL sheet.”
Whitehead was relieved to make it through the off-season without getting a call that one of his young players had left school early to turn pro. The Red Wings have until 2012 to sign Nyquist, but UMaine’s top returning scorer would not say how many more seasons he plans to don the Black Bears jersey. He is focused on building on an already impressive resume in his second season with the team.
“It’s been a good year for me, but playing for the Red Wings, I can’t even think that long,” Nyquist said. “I need a couple more years here to develop before I get the chance to play with those guys.”
Nyquist was the top freshman goal scorer in Hockey East and second in scoring (13 goals, 19 assists, 32 points, 38 games). He finished No. 13 overall in scoring in the conference and was the Hockey East Rookie of the Year runner-up to Boston University goaltender Kieran Millan. He was also a critical part of Hockey East’s top scoring freshman class.
“Sometimes sophomores in our conference find it difficult to elevate the second year, because of how challenging the league is,” Whitehead said. “The next step — going from good to great — is sometimes the very toughest step, but I’m confident that Gustav can make that step.”
Nyquist has been praised by Red Wings scouts for his intensity and refusal to give up on a loose puck, but he admitted that what held him back as a freshman was his strength. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 170 pounds, Nyquist feels his summer strength training program has better prepared him to match up physically with opponents on the more confined ice.
“I need to get bigger and stronger and I know that,” Nyquist said. “I’m going to work a lot on that. It’s probably the biggest thing I need to work on.”
Nyquist makes most things look easy on the ice, but his path to the NHL is not yet paved. His name was not called by an NHL team in his first year of draft eligibility and according to Hakan Andersson — the Red Wings Director of Scouting — in Matthew Wuest’s June 2008 story on RedWingsCentral.com, middle round picks such as Nyquist do not typically make it to the NHL. The Red Wings are optimistic though that Nyquist’s tremendous work ethic and hockey sense will help him develop into a second or third line, two-way forward for the Red Wings, with penalty killing ability.
“The challenge this year will be to bring an elite level on a consistent basis, and to continue to get better,” Whitehead said. “I think he’s prepared for that challenge.”
European players are rare on college hockey rosters and Nyquist could have chosen to sign with a Swedish Elite professional team, but he felt receiving an education was equally as important as developing his hockey skills.
“In Sweden you have to choose — either you want to play hockey, or you want to go to school,” Nyquist said. “Here you can combine a great education with great hockey as well and that’s what I wanted to do.”
Whitehead credits UMaine assistant coach Dan Kerluke for his efforts recruiting foreign talent that share Nyquist’s desire. Forward Theo Andersson arrived with Nyquist last year from Sweden, and Klas Leidermark, also from Sweden, is an incoming freshman.
“With the NCAA Clearinghouse restrictions, it’s getting tougher and tougher to recruit foreign players,” Whitehead said. “Dan has done a great job of really pouring over the statistics, and the phone calls, and putting tons of miles under his belt to find student-athletes that are excited about coming over to Maine.”
Former University of Notre Dame left wing Robin Bergman chose the opposite path as UMaine’s Swedish players. According to the Portland Press Herald, Instead of joining UMaine as a member of this year’s recruiting class, Bergman decided to return to Sweden to play professionally.
