Björn Svensson

Born June 16, 1986
5 ft 11.5 in
192 lbs

With the Oilers picking up Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and Anton Lander, here's a look at Björn Svensson, another Timrå hockey player with WHL and SEL experience, and he's the older (half?) brother of Magnus.



Those numbers aren't too bad and they compare favourably to one Milan Kytnar (though Svensson is older), who signed an entry-level contract with the Oilers this past summer. With the current problem of Linus Omark going to the KHL to join his best friend and "attached at the hip" teammate Johan Harju, I think it would be benefitial to sign this overrage undrafted European player for two reasons:

1. Tambellini and Pendergast have talked about having more experienced offensive players on the Falcons roster, and Björn has lots of that. They've talked a bit about getting guys like Jason Krog. If the Björn is anything like Milan Kytnar or even his younger brother Magnus, he will bring a level of compete to the farm team that good development systems need in order to succeed. Plus, he may earn a call up a la Tim Sestito.
2. When Magnus is done with Timrå IK it may ease his transition to the Falcons, in the situation that he doesn't make the Oilers straight out of training camp in 2010-11.
3. The Oilers are serious about bringing over great talents and making them comfortable. Signing Björn may show Omark, and others (Hrabal?), that the Oilers really mean business about weening incoming talents and prospects.
   

You may ask, why does making a bunch of talented prospects comfortable in the system even matter? The Oilers shouldn't build their prospect base around Paajarvi-Svensson and Omark, you say.

However, I don't think it's about that AT ALL. The Detroit Red Wings have actually had worse drafting success overall than most teams. What's their secret?

How do you think the Red Wings convinced guys like Ville Leino, Jiri Hudler, and Jonathan Ericsson to work their way up through the AHL?

PLAYER RETENTION STRATEGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You see, there are players like the Sedins and then there are Red Wings lifers, such as Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Franzen. Don't forget one Steve Yzerman as well.

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On another note, it seems the Oilers have a knack for picking up players with hyphens. Maybe it's what they notice first?

Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson
Marc-Antoine Pouliot
Marc-Andre Bergeron
Jeff Drouin-DesLauriers
Jean-François Jacques

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I've heard rumours about Rob Schremp getting a second wind with the arrival of Quinn and Renney. Any truth to this, you think?