Oscar Fisker Mølgaard simple but effective game makes NHL scouts excited

Oscar Fisker Molgaard (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

If you don’t follow European hockey or European prospects often, you’d probably be confused as to why scouts are high on Oscar Fisker Mølgaard.

He played 41 games with HV71 in the top league in Sweden, but recorded just seven points. And yet, everyone’s calling it a success. What gives?

Rasmus Dahlin is the only U-18 player to break the 20-point barrier over the past decade. Alexander Holtz is the only forward to eclipse the 15-point mark. Only seven players in that span have hit double digits. It’s tough to produce in a pro league where the focus is winning, and development is secondary.

Molgaard’s output puts him 10th among U-18 scorers over the past 10 years. He also played an additional 21 games with the U-20 team, where he looked much more dominant with 23 points in 21 games. Against slightly older junior competition, Mølgaard was excellent. And against men? He stood his own. It’s rare to see a draft-eligible player skating in 41 games against men and not look completely out of place.

As a teenager, playing against men can have its obvious growing pains. Offensively, sure, Mølgaard didn’t light the lamp. But he showed what he’s truly good at: understanding the game. Mølgaard is one of the smartest players in the draft, allowing him to evade attackers while possessing the puck. He’s an exceptionally strong defensive player, with his typical movements – whether it be stick checks, positioning, etc. – looking so simple, yet so effective. Few prospects in this draft understand the nuance of positionally sound defensive play like Mølgaard does. There’s a reason HV71 liked putting him on the ice when they were leading late in a game.

Mølgaard can play on the penalty kill and the power play, but he’s especially effective when his team’s down a man. He keeps it simple, but you’ll be impressed in how he takes away space. And taking that space away is one of his trademarks: he’s a dominant small-area gamer. One that will just get in the way, win battles and set his team up for a scoring chance.

“I’m a really smart hockey player and I think that’s what got me so far,” Mølgaard said. “I can read the game well and position myself well on the ice.”

Mølgaard’s offensive game is something he’ll need to evolve over the next couple of years before he makes the NHL. It was a good start, but with more confidence and ice time, you want to see more. But he has a toolkit teams look for at a bare minimum: he’s a strong skater, works his behind off, and always gives you a strong effort at both ends of the ice. Mølgaard wants to win.

And part of that was seen at the World Hockey Championship, his first opportunity to play against NHLers. Mølgaard had no points in the tournament, but was deployed in important defensive situations and never said no to a challenge against a more skilled, experienced attacker. He was effectively a third defenseman out there, but one with enough speed and creativity to beat some high-quality talent.

Mølgaard felt the experience was important to his development, showing what he was capable in his last on-ice action before the draft. He used the experience to learn more about what he needs to do to improve his own game.

“They’re a bit more physical than I am, and I want to get bigger and strong and that comes with time. But I know I just have to be patient (against pros). You have to be smart and fast and use my stick instead.”

At that tournament, he also learned from Nikolaj Ehlers, the best Danish NHLer and one of Mølgaard’s idols. Mølgaard said he grew up watching Frans Nielsen and Sidney Crosby the closest (the Nielsen comparison to himself makes sense), but getting to play with Ehlers was an incredible experience.

“His hard work and the way he’s off the ice, he’s humble and a great guy, too,” Mølgaard said. “I think that’s important to stay on the ground even though you are where you are. Being able to handle that, and seeing how he took care of that, that was amazing to see.”

Mølgaard started to put himself on the map late in 2022 with an excellent U-18 World Hockey Championship. He had a bit of U-20 experience, but it was all just about gaining experience. By around the midway mark, Mølgaard really started to put himself into late first-round conversation. Public rankings have him all over the place, but many scouts are adamant that Mølgaard will be a useful NHLer in a middle-six role.

The Danish forward said he spent the last offseason trying to work “on the little” things in his game. He also said playing with HV71, who had to fight to stay alive in the relegation round, allowed him to experience adversity in a way that he felt was incredibly valuable for his development.

Mølgaard has played a little bit of center and wing in his career, but he sees himself as a center. And that’s where scouts want him, too. His defining trait is his commitment to being an effective defensive forward. One you can feel safe inserting into your lineup and not be worried he’ll fall apart.

“The attention to detail in his play is incredible,” a scout said. “He’s really a guy you can trust out there. He’s a good setup passer and I think his offensive game will evolve, but Mølgaard is one of the better two-way forwards in this draft right now.”

Mølgaard will return to HV71 next year and has a deal until 2025. The NHL team that drafts him could elect to bring him over early and get him some AHL experience, but continuing to grow into his role with HV71 seems like the best path for his development. Most hope he’ll find that extra scoring touch to make his game more versatile.

“The more we watched him, the more we liked him,” an NHL scout said. “And we think there’s much he can unlock.”

At the very least, you’re getting a forward that should have no issue finding a spot in the NHL as a smart, playmaking, two-way center. Sound good?

Discover Betano.ca – a premium Sports Betting and Online Casino experience. Offering numerous unique and dynamic betting options along with diverse digital and live casino games, Betano is where The Game Starts Now. 19+. Please play responsibly.

Oscar Fisker Mølgaard simple but effective game makes NHL scouts excited

Recently by Steven Ellis