EDMONTON - There's not a lot of room at centre, but highly rated Swede Anton Lander is joining the crowd looking for a job with the Edmonton Oilers.
Lander, who played on a line with best buddy Magnus Paajarvi(notes) on the Swedish Elite League team in Timra, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Oilers on Thursday.
After starting play in the SEL at age 16 (the third-youngest player ever), Lander, who turned 20 last Sunday, will be solidly in the mix for a third or fourth-line centre spot when Oilers training camp opens in the fall.
"He's a strong two-way centreman that the coaches have trust in using in all situations … and he's worn a letter on his sweater, an assistant captain on his (Timra) team at his young age," said Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini, who hates to put a time frame on any youngster seeking to make the NHL. "That speaks to the respect they have for him. I don't know if it'll be Day 1 or Day 20 or whatever, but he'll play and be part of our organization."
Lander might have to start on the team's Oklahoma City Barons American Hockey League affiliate, as fellow Swede Linus Omark(notes) did last fall because Andrew Cogliano(notes), Chris VandeVelde(notes), Ryan O'Marra, Colin Fraser(notes) and Gilbert Brule(notes) are higher up on the depth chart.
But Lander is likely the best or second-best prospect in the organization. Only Slovakian defenceman Martin Marancin is rated as highly as the six-foot 194-pounder, who was Edmonton's second pick (40th overall) in the 2009 NHL entry draft.
Lander is a different breed of cat from Paajarvi, a winger who has speed to burn and is over 200 pounds. But scouts all say Lander has an extremely high hockey IQ, competes hard, and has very strong leadership skills. He was an assistant captain in Timra — at 18.
He turned down an offer from the Oilers last year, but not this time. Four years in the SEL was enough, especially watching Paajarvi make the jump last season. And maybe seeing Omark here as well after his early start in the AHL, and the possibility of drafting Swedish defenceman Adam Larsson, who shares the same agent, Claes Elefalk, was added incentive to sign with Edmonton.
"I had too many things to work on for this season," said Lander, who may have to adjust to life in North America, but should be happy to know nobody here wears No. 51, the number he had in Sweden.
"I wanted my skating to come up a few steps, and it did and I wanted to bring more to the games. I'm more ready now. I wouldn't have signed, if I didn't think I was ready," said Lander.
"I talked to Magnus yesterday (Wednesday), before he went to the world championship … we talked of things on and off the ice, his apartment, everything. He only said good things about the Oilers. He felt very comfortable here. What he said, means a lot to me," said Lander.
Paajarvi, the Oilers' first choice in '09, had 34 points, including 15 goals, in 80 games in his first NHL season with Edmonton.
"He's got the biggest speed I've ever seen. He always wants the puck, he finds the big open areas," said the less-flashy Lander, who conceivably could be used to get Paajarvi the puck.
"I'm a two-way guy. I do my best in defensive play and try to bring up the puck as fast as I can," said Lander. "My biggest thing is I work my butt off to get two points for the team. I want the team to win.
"I hate to lose."
Lander had a shot at making the world championship team, along with Paajarvi, who starred on the Swedish side last year. But team management opted to go with older or NHL-trained centres, even though Lander led the auditioning Swedish players in six exhibition games and wore the C.
"They have Patrik Berglund(notes) from St. Louis, (Mikael) Backlund from Calgary, Rickard Wallin(notes), who used to play for Toronto and Minnesota and his Farjestads teammate Mattias Sjogren. Life goes on," said Lander, who will attend the Oilers prospect camp in early July.
Before that, Lander will be doing some NHL homework. He has seen some Oilers games on TV.
"I saw Taylor Hall(notes)'s hat trick (against the Atlanta Thrashers on Feb. 19 at Rexall Place). He's so good," said Lander. "I also promised myself I will watch the Stanley Cup final. That is the big dream to win that."
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