U18s Notebook: Mattias Hävelid's standout performance in Sweden's preliminary round win over Finland

The 2022 NHL Draft was supposed to be forward-heavy. At least, that's how it's been sold for several years now, as players like Shane Wright, Brad Lambert, and Matthew Savoie impressed on the international scene and in their respective leagues. But as the season has progressed, it's started to look like the year of the defenceman. On top of a few top-end prospects, like David Jiříček and Šimon Nemec, it also offers promising development projects who, with a few tweaks to their game, could become impactful NHLers. 

The U18 World Hockey Championships have given us a good look at some of the draft's best defensive offerings, especially when Sweden hits the ice. There's the mobile Elias Salomonsson, the hyper-active Calle Odelius, and the quarterback of the team, Mattias Hävelid.

Hävelid isn't a