Nashville Predators Draft Goalie Magnus Hellberg with First Pick in Round-Two –NHL Entry Draft Update
No team has more of a passion for goaltenders than the Nashville Predators, who selected the first goalie in the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft with their eighth pick in the second round on Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Nashville selected Magnus Hellberg, a 6’5 goalie from Sweden, as the 38th overall pick to add to their line-up which already consists of one of the leagues’ top goalie, Pekka Rinne.
"It's a dream come true", Hellberg said after being picked by the Predators. "I didn't think I was going to be the first goalie, but when I got picked it was great moment for me to join a great organization. When I got (to the draft), I said to myself I
don't have any expectations or hope because I don't want to be disappointed. I heard people say I'd be picked in the second-to-fifth round so I didn't think I was going second, really. But when I did it's an awesome feeling".
Surprisingly, Hellberg was not ranked at the top according to any scouting list which most NHL teams use to select players based on personal opinions by league and third-part scouts. It was considered to be the forefront decision of Nashville Predators European
scout Lucas Bergman, who had high regards for Hellberg.
Hellberg might underestimate himself by saying,
"I do not do the big saves all the time and try to stay in position in net, be calm”.
Although Bergman considers him to be a perfect fit for the Predators franchise. He relates his playing style with Rinne and their backup goalie Anders Lindback but the only thing that differs him from them is his size.
The 20-year-old Swedish goalie played the 2010-2011 season with the Almtuna club in the Sweden-2 league. He maintained a saves percentage of .935 and 2.04 goals against average in 31 games played.
Nashville has always reached new heights due to their talented goalies in the net, and adding a third one to the roster is a win-win situation for the team that is yet to get into the Stanley Cup Finals.
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