CANUCKSARMY’S 2018 NHL DRAFT PROFILES: #64 Marcus Westfalt
5 years ago
With what will be the second pick of the 3rd round lands an interesting Swedish centre who can also play the wing.
Marcus Westfalt tore up the junior leagues this season and was a regular for Brynas in the SHL throughout the season and playoffs. He’s produced points at every level during his junior career and finds ways to be effective whereever he goes.
The underlying data of his time in the SuperElit this season is really noteworthy.
Let’s take a look at the Stockholm native.
Bio
- Age/Birthdate: 17.51/ March 12, 2000
- Birthplace:Stockholm, SWE
- Frame:6-foot-3/ 203 lbs
- Position:Centre / Left Wing
- Handedness:Left
- Draft Year Team:Brynas IF(SHL)
- Accomplishments/Awards:
- 2015-2016
- J18 Div.1 to J18 Elit Promotion (Vallentuna)
- J20 Div.1 to J20 Elit Promotion (Vallentuna)
- TV-Pucken Silver Medal
- 2016-2017
- J18 Elit (West) Most Assists (26)
- J18 Elit (West) Most Points (36)
- U17 WHC Gold Medal
- 2017-2018
- Hlinka Memorial Bronze Medal
- U18 WJC Bronze Medal
Stats
Career
2017-18 Season
| GP | G | A | P | SEAL | INV% | 5v5 Pr INV% | 5v5 eP160 | Sh/Gp | Sh% | GF% | GF%rel | GD60rel | XLS% | XPR | xVAL |
| 31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.42 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 0.71 | 0.00 | 0% | 39.1% | -15.7% | -1.71 | 29% | 36.7 | 2.6 |
Westfalt was dynamite at the SuperElit level this season – posting 12 goals and 15 assists in 26 games with Brynas J20 team. He was able to appear in 31 regular season games with the SHL club, in a depth role, where he put up one goal and three assists. He appeared in eight playoff games for them as well before being eliminated by the Vaxjo Lakers.
Westfalt was +16 in goal differential (+28/-12) in his time with Brynas J20, which resulted in a 70% GF percentage.
Adjusted Scoring (SEAL)
Team Relative
Westfalt made almost everyone of his most common linemates better in terms of GF%. He also outproduced everyone in terms of 5v5 eP60 and GF%. We are talking about a 26 game sample but still the numbers stand out.
Cohort Based
In the previous prospets profiled that split their time between the SHL and SuperElit, we have seen a much lower percentage of success based on the junior production and then a higher success rate for the SHL games. Given how well Westfalt played in the SuperElit and registering four points in the SHL, Westfalt rates well with both lenses.
Any percentage above 20% for a second round (or later) presents good value – add that even registering 0.09 PPG in the SHL, there is likely even better odds for someone like Westfalt.
Our Take
Westfalt is another Swedish winger that may lack a high end offensive upside but there is a lot to like about his game. But his SuperElit numbers are really encouraging, like dominating any time he was on the ice encouraging. When he was in the SHL, he was limited to a fourth line role that saw him averaging 7:17 in ice time during the regular season and 9:57 in the playoffs. His GF% and GFREL% is not good at level but can be explained by the limited role with the big club.
On the flip side, in the SuperElit, he was a force who made his linemates better.
It’s always worth mentioning that even being in the SHL as a regular during your draft year is a good sign, even if it’s as a depth player in a fourth line role.
I’ve always liked Westfalt’s game – he doesn’t have a standout skill, which is likely why there is concern that he won’t become a high end offensive player but just seems to do everything well. His play making abilities and the knack to thread a pass to a player in stride is one of the best skills he has. Westfalt is effective as a depth player, which we saw at various international tournaments, as he is accepting of the role and uses his strengths to do the role well.
It’s fair to suggest that he may actually have more offensive chops than he has shown thus far. He has the smarts, skating and puck skills to make things happen and has been a point producer at every level thus far. If he was afforded a larger role in his 31 games with Brynas in the SHL and at international tournaments, then that suggestion likely wouldn’t be out there.
Regardless, I think he will be a really effective player who is very versitile and is worth keeping an eye on.
Further Reading
| Consolidated | Average | Future Considerations | Hockey Prospect.com | ISS Hockey | McKeen’s | The Athletic | TSN Bob McKenzie | TSN Craig Button | The Hockey News | Sportsnet | ESPN | Dobber Prospects |
| 94 | 79.3 | $$ | $$ | 75 |
