The Boston Bruins have been gradually getting bigger and nastier throughout their lineup after getting pushed around at times in previous playoff appearances. To match Eastern Conference contenders such as the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers, Bruins’ General Manager Don Sweeney has added size to the roster and made it a clear initiative to draft bigger players at forward and defense. It also helps to add a little nasty aspect to the prospect pool, too. In the sixth round, Sweeney chose 6-foot-3, 215-pound Loke Johansson from Sweden, an intriguing choice given Johansson’s size and rugged style.
The Huddinge native was the 186th overall pick by Boston and brings an edge that the Bruins have desired. The trend for Boston is to add some “snarl” to the defensive core. Nikita Zadorov was signed to a six-year deal for that reason. Jackson Edward was a seventh-round draft pick who has a reputation that includes being a fierce, physical defender. Player Development Coordinator Adam McQuaid was a tough hombre himself, and developing players like Johansson is his specialty.
Johansson was ranked 52nd on the list of European skaters by Central Scouting. The big Swede is described as “a technically sound skater, able to cover a lot of ground with his four-way mobility and general shiftiness. He is not necessarily explosive, but at a minimum, an average projection for the NHL. Teams will almost surely appreciate how well he acquitted himself physically in Sweden’s second-tier men’s league, the AIK in the J20 Nationell. Far from backing down from opponents, it was often the Swedish defender who was the one visiting physical pain in that setting”. Johansson is not an offensive threat from the back end by any means, but his 59 penalty minutes show what he brings to the table.
Johansson attended Bruins Development Camp right after the draft and earned some valuable experience playing against the other 34 prospects at camp and getting his first taste of North American coaching at the pro level.
