Nova Caps has reorganized their monthly prospect reporting this season in order to better assess each prospect by relative leagues and levels of play to provide a more concise and relative analysis of each of the Capitals prospects: The (AHL) Hershey Bears, the Canadian Junior Hockey leagues, and in this report, European leagues. We also publish a weekly report on the prospects that play in the NCAA.
To most the Capitals prospects in Europe are toiling in relative obscurity as they play in European leagues that are not necessarily the top league for their nation and are not widely reported. Thus, they don’t get the same publicity as the prospects in the more heralded leagues.
The prospects in this report include forwards Alexander Suzdalev, Oskar Magnusson, Ludwig Persson and Haakon Hanelt. Currently, Magnusson plays in Hockey Allsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish League. Suzdalev also formerly played in Allsvenskan before returning to Canadian junior hockey. Ludwig Persson plays with IPK in the Mestis, the second-tier Finnish League. Hanelt currently plays in the Deutschland League (DEL).
ALEXANDER SUZDALEV (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2022 (Third Round, 70th Overall)
Team: Mora IK League: Hockey Allsvenskan
Since Suzdalev saw no playing time with the Hershey Bears, he was lent to Mora IK in Hockey Allsvenskan. So far, he has played in seven games, scored two goals, and recorded one assist. He scored his two goals on November 26 in a game against Almtuna, scoring the team’s first and fifth goals. (Link to game story here.) He has left Mora IK and will now play with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL in Canada.
Suzdalev was in Regina for the Blades game on Friday, January 6, but did not suit up for the Blades, as his equipment didn’t arrive in time.
Score: Incomplete
LUDWIG PERSSON (C/LW) – 20 – DRAFTED 2022 (Third Round, 85th Overall)
Team: IPK League: Mestis
So far, Persson has played in 28 games, scoring three goals and recording 34 assists. He may not be scoring many goals but he has recorded numerous assists – more assists than games played. He currently leads his team in points overall.
Score: 3.5
OSKAR MAGNUSSON (C/RW) – 21 – DRAFTED 2020 (Seventh Round, 211th Overall)
Team: AIK League: Hockey Allsvenskan
Magnusson has played in 19 games so far this season. He has not scored any goals but has recorded three assists.
Score: 2.0
HAAKON HÄNELT (F/D) – 20 – DRAFTED 2021 (Fifth Round, 151th Overall)
Team: Kölner Haie League: Deutsch League (DEL)
So far this season, Hänelt has played 22 games with Kölner Haie in the Deutsch League with no goals and no assists. He has been in and out of the lineup and his ice time is not high. He was loaned to EC Bad Nauheim in the DEL2 (German second-tier league) for two games in late October.
Score: 2.0
By Diane Doyle
