The Vancouver Canucks had to wait a long time to make their first pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. With no first or second-round pick and a strong playoff run, the Canucks' first pick wasn't until late in the third round, 93rd overall.
It's challenging to find a top-tier prospect without a top draft pick. It requires taking a chance on a player with a significant flaw or two who you believe your development staff can help overcome those flaws. The ideal mid-to-late-round gamble is a 17-year-old who doesn't turn 18 until early September getting limited minutes on his junior team because he's stuck behind several veterans and just hit 6'2" after a recent growth spurt, still needing to grow into his frame and adjust to his new size.
The Canucks' first pick in the draft didn't quite fit that profile but he is an intriguing swing for the fences on a skilled but flawed player.
With the 93rd overall pick, the Canucks selected Melvin Fernström out of Örebro HK in the Swedish junior league, J20 Nationell.
Fernström was a beast in the J20 Nationell, leading the league in goalscoring and finishing third in points with 31 goals and 63 points in 45 games. That earned him a cup of coffee against men in the SHL, playing six games for the senior club in the regular season and three playoff games, though he had no points.
Fernström also stood out in international competition, leading Sweden in scoring with 8 points in 7 games at the Under-18 World Championship and also putting up 5 points in 4 games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The 6'0" winger is smart off the puck, getting into great positions to score goals, with an ability to get his shot off quickly to beat moving goaltenders off a pass, but he's also an adept playmaker.
"Fernström reads the play away from the puck, anticipates where the next pass will come, and he gets there just as his puck-carrying teammates turn to execute the play," reads his profile from Elite Prospects. "The winger can also distribute the puck just as well. He finds teammates right at the door-step regularly during games, racking up assists."
So, why on earth was he still available late in the third round for the Canucks to take him 93rd overall?
The issue for Fernström is that he has some significant weaknesses that could keep him from translating his offensive game to the NHL level. His skating is severely limited, which will make it a challenge for him to find open areas on the ice as the pace of the game increases.
"He just isn't quick enough," said Elite Prospects' J.D. Burke in one scouting report. "He can't keep up with the game physically and he's not anticipating the play in a way that covers for that deficiency."
On top of that, Fernström also doesn't protect the puck well enough to play any sort of power game. This means he loses puck battles regularly, which will be a major obstacle to making the NHL.
Here's the thing: flaws are unavoidable in players picked after the first two rounds — heck, after the first ten picks. The upside to Fernström is that his unique and intelligent offensive game could make him a legitimately impactful player in the NHL if he addresses his weaknesses.
"He lacks the quickness and the speed to escape defenders or beat them in straight-lines and he loses many of his 1-on-1 battles, but these weaknesses also shape his overall game," says Elite Prospects. "They forced him to develop some unique ways to score."
If Fernström can add more quickness and strength, his creativity could shine through, turning him into a second-line winger in the NHL. All-in-all, it's an intriguing swing by general manager Patrik Allvin and his scouting staff.
