Calgary Flames Prospect Ollas Mattsson On Sweden WJC Roster

Calgary Flames prospect, (Adam) Ollas Mattsson has been named in the Swedish World Junior Championship team, heading to camp in late December.

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The 19-year-old from Swedish capital, Stockholm was picked up by the Calgary Flames, 175th overall in the 6th round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and is currently plying his trade with 20 games so far this year for Djurgårdens IF in his home nation’s top division, the Swedish Hockey League.

He is earmarked as one of a few defensive prospects in the system that have the potential to graduate to the Calgary Flames line-up. You’d assume he will be shifted to the Stockton Heat in the American Hockey League next season to continue his progression.

The announcement, made a few days ago seems to vindicate the decision to remain in Sweden for the season as other Calgary Flames prospects; Oliver Kylington included didn’t make the cut with the Swedish team, despite routinely appearing in the AHL.

The players head to camp on Boxing Day, where Mattsson will link up with other NHL-drafted players including Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, William Nylander and Los Angeles Kings 2014 first round pick, Adrian Kempe.

Playing alongside this caliber of prospect is only going to be a positive experience for Mattsson, scrimmage will certainly provide a good opportunity to face two players that are definitely nearing NHL-quality skill and movement.

With that said, he’s been playing in a non-age restricted league all year so one would assume he’s developed to a level that he can face-off comfortably against that level of player.

In a translated interview with the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, Mattson said ‘It looks like we have a really good team, on the other hand, many other nations can also take the gold, but I think we can go far.’

Mattson’s sentiment was not lost in translation – he clearly believes in the players he’ll be lining up alongside when it comes to his World Junior Championship debut.

“I think we can go far.” – Ollas Mattson (Dagens Nyheter)

The Calgary Flames will surely be hoping the young defenceman, who given his late drafting, could be viewed as an outside chance at ever seeing NHL hockey, continues to impress.

The World Junior Championship certainly has proven to be a shop window of talent in previous years – maybe this is the year for Mattsson to make the team and put himself out there as a future blue-line option for the Calgary Flames.

They’ll certainly be hoping so; dilemmas about having too many NHL-ready defensemen aren’t exactly the stuff of nightmares!

Next: Calgary Flames Home Form Continues Against Sharks

Will Mattsson turn out to be a later round steal for the Calgary Flames? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.