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Position: Left Wing
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 205
Shoots: Left
DOB: November 23, 1992
Nationality: Swedish
2010-2011 Team: Kitchener Rangers
League: OHL
Stats: 53 GP - 36 G - 30 A - 66 P - 61 PIM
Playoffs: 7 GP - 6 G - 4 A - 10 P - 4 PIM
WJC-20: 1 GP - 1 G - 1 A - 2 P - 0 PIM
CH: At this point in the countdown, any Islander fan would have to be satisfied with one of these players' name being called by Garth Snow. Landeskog is a tough, gritty left wing who came over from Sweden for the 2009-10 season to play with Kitchener. After a disappointing first season, he had a dominant playoff run with 23 points in 18 games and carried that over into the 2010-11 season with 66 points in 60 games. He was selected to the World Junior U-20 tournament by Sweden, but only played one game before missing the rest of the tournament due to injury. He has hung around the top-5 pretty much all season, so it should be no surprise he finished #5 on the ISS countdown. Landeskog is said to have outstanding leadership ability on and off the ice. His english is impeccable, which is extremely impressive for a player who has only been in North America for two seasons.
It's possible Landeskog will be around at #5, but not terribly likely. That said, in 2010 the Islanders drafted a similar style player in Nino Niederreiter. I'm not sure this is the route they will choose to go in, but it would be hard to skip on Landeskog if he does fall to 5. In that scenario, I see a trade down to #6 as extremely likely. Ottawa has been rumored to be interested in him, and many reporters have thrown out the idea that they may trade up for him. If he is chosen by the Islanders, having Landeskog, Niederreiter, and a guy like Kyle Okposo in the organization will make for outstanding complements to centers such as John Tavares and Frans Nielsen. Either way, the Islanders cannot go wrong if Landeskog ends up being their guy.
AT: I love what Landeskog brings to the table. Not afraid to stick up for his teammates, incredible leadership skills, goalscoring ability and strength that will only get better. My only question is whether this goalscoring ability will carry over to the NHL. He does seem to translate to a Swedish version of Jarome Iginla, a powerful forward who can still do the things necessary to get the puck in the net. He might not have the pure scoring ability of Steven Stamkos, but he has the desire to get the puck into the net. His ability with English, as Carey mentioned, is also insane for how little he's known it fluently. That to me shows a lot more than what may come off. It shows a very intelligent person who is willing to work hard to achieve things he wants to.
I know you're supposed to go for BPA, but I just see Landeskog being very redundant in the Isles organization. They already have a Okposo and Niederreiter as mentioned as well as Blake Comeau who throws hits left and right along with his improving goal scoring ability. I just don't see a reason the Isles would go for Landeskog at this point, but anything can happen.
Most likely to be drafted: 2-6
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