Profile
One of the more recent rapid-risers up many draft boards is the Swedish-born Fabian Lysell. He is an 18-year old, right-shot who plays the right-wing. Lysell is listed at five-foot-ten and 172 pounds. He has spent his whole career playing junior hockey in the very strong Swedish system. Starting first with Frölunda HC and most recently with Luleä. In the final 2021 Prospect Rankings, he checked in at an extremely surprising ninth among European skaters.
The Statistics
At age 13, Lysell began his junior hockey career in the Frölunda HC system. His 2.10 point-per-game career average in the under-16 Elite league ranks 9th all-time of 750-plus players. This mark is better than recent draftee Lucas Raymond. His production stayed the course during his under-18 Elite career as his point-per-game career average was better than current NHLers Elias Lindholm, Marcus Sörensen, Marcus Johansson, and Victor Olofsson.
At ages 16 and 17 Lysell debuted in the under-20 SuperElit and Nationell leagues. He put up formidable numbers before moving on to the SHL for a part of this season with Luleä. Interestingly enough, Lysell and his family orchestrated the move because he felt the opportunity with Frölunda HC would not be there in the SHL. Lysell went on to play 26 games in the SHL only compiling three points as a 17-year old.
One of the reasons Lysell flew up draft boards is because of his blistering performance during the under-18 World Junior Championships. He tallied nine points in seven games which was 15th best among 218 players at the tournament. This output was better than the likes of Dylan Guenther and Brandt Clarke.
The Scouting Report
Strengths:
Lysell is a pleasure to watch play. He has all the attributes of an electrifying and exciting player. He is a wonderful skater that has great edges, agility, acceleration, and speed. When watching him play he just comes off as an extremely smooth-skater, with special attributes in this area.
One of the most impressive parts of his game is his play without the puck. If you are looking for a hard-worker that has an incredible motor on the ice, Lysell is your guy. This not only helps him in the offensive zone in creating and continuing cycles. But, also helps tremendously defensively, as Lysell is relentless when pressuring opposing puck-carries as well as tracking and retrieving loose pucks.
As for his pure offensive abilities, Lysell grades more of a play-maker than goal-scorer. His tool kit to be a high-level playmaker at the next level is ideal. His speed, coupled with high-hockey IQ enables him to create passing lanes and find open teammates.
Weaknesses:
The above touched a lot on Lysell’s high-motor, which as crazy as this sounds does lead to a particular area of downfall in his game. Sometimes Lysell can get too carried away with trying to doing too much. This can sometimes lead to some turnovers. Luckily, he does have the capabilities to quickly get that puck back after these turnovers, thanks in large part to that relentless pressure spoke about above.
Another area for concern is his size. At five-ten and only 176 he can get pushed around sometimes, but like almost all young junior players he will get stronger with the team. Additionally, as it somewhat releates, his shot does need some work. Once again, with age and more strength this should improve as well.
Others may cite his SHL production as being a cause for concern. But, he barely got any ice-time, getting as low as six minutes per night.
Projection
At his best Fabien Lysell has the tools to become a very solid, top-six, play-making wing. His high-motor should enable him to be above-average in his own-end as well. Given this high-motor, Lysell should be regarded as a pretty safe prospect. Specifically, having a floor of a bottom-six, play-making center than is reliable in his own end. At the end of the day, it seems I may be a bit higher on Lysell than some. Especially in comparison to the folks over at NHL Central Scouting, which had him ninth in their European-specific player rankings.
Projecting where Lysell’s name is called may be a little difficult given his recent rise up many boards. A safe projection on where he may land is very early-teens, somewhere in the region of 11 through 14. Given his skill-set, piercing the top-10 would not come as a surprise given his already rapid rise.
Fit with The New Jersey Devils
Unfortunately, it does not seem like Fabian Lysell will be a realistic selection for either of the New Jersey Devils first-round picks. Fourth overall is too early and there is no almost no way Lysell will be on the board when the Devils’ second first-rounder comes up.
The only realistic way Lysell may be selected by the red-and-black is if the Devils were to trade-back from four or trade-up from wherever the Islander pick they are in possession of ends up. However, both scenarios seem unlikely.
James’ Prospect Rankings
- Fabian Lysell (Today)
- Aatu Räty (6/2/2021)