The top three international skaters in this year's upcoming draft all hail from Sweden. We've already done profiles on the top two, Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund. Let's take a look at the third one, Milton Gastrin. Even with his high ranking, he is still expected to be a mid-to-low-level first-round pick. That is just the spot where the Flyers might have a chance to select him.
Gastrin is a 6'1" 18-year-old with a sleek 185 frame. He plays center, for the most part, but also can fill in on the left wing. That versatility could make him an attractive option for a team that is short on both centers and left wings.
Gastrin played for the MoDo Jr. team in the Swedish Junior League before getting called to the MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik for an eight-game stint. With the junior team, he scored 18 goals with 24 assists in 40 games. That town in Sweden he hails from, Ornskoldsvik, is also home to some other famous Swedish players: Peter Forsberg, the Sedin Brothers, and Victor Hedman, among others. Who knows, maybe he learned something from these hometown heroes.
Scouts say that he is a hard worker, reliable skater, and a solid two-way center who can set up a play as easy as fall back to defend the zone. He's been a captain of his junior league teams, so he checks off the leadership box fairly well.
The biggest knock on him is his offense output. As the Hockey Writers said in his draft profile:
"The only limiting factor for him in the draft process will be the questions surrounding his ultimate offensive potential. If he doesn’t take much of a step forward offensively in the coming years, Gästrin would still likely become a long-time NHL contributor. However, some growth in his shot or skill with the puck could raise his ceiling considerably."
He'd be a work in progress. He's not fully developed yet. He could become a great player. At the very worst, he's the kind of third-line player that every player needs to stabilize the team.
Could the Flyers find someone better with their late first round picks? Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on how the Flyers help him grow. He could be a valuable asset to have.