Milton Gästrin

[bud white]

Ya know ... given Steen's knowledge of, and eyes in the SEL and Europe, I would wager he's modeling this team after the Red Wings dynasty. Healthy does of Euros with NA toughness. If you recall, those teams had guys that were literally unknowns and very late picks who turn out to be beasts.

[JK92]

makes me think of Gaston Gingras.

[TBone]

Can you, or anyone else, please explain the difference between Top 6/Middle 6/Bottom 6? It seems in theory it pertains to best case and worst case scenario for each grouping of lines. For instance, the difference between a middle-6 C from a bottom-6 C is third line C with the possibility to pop and become a second line C or flop and become a fourth line C. Do I have that correct?

Yes. You normally roll 4 lines out in a game, three players per line. 4+3=12

Top 6 would be players on the Top 2 lines.
Middle 6 would be players on lines 2 and 3.
Bottom 6 would be players on the 3rd and 4th lines.

They're usually used in the context of a player's NHL ceiling.

[Ty Webb]

Can you, or anyone else, please explain the difference between Top 6/Middle 6/Bottom 6? It seems in theory it pertains to best case and worst case scenario for each grouping of lines. For instance, the difference between a middle-6 C from a bottom-6 C is third line C with the possibility to pop and become a second line C or flop and become a fourth line C. Do I have that correct?

Yes. You normally roll 4 lines out in a game, three players per line. 4+3=12

Top 6 would be players on the Top 2 lines.
Middle 6 would be players on lines 2 and 3.
Bottom 6 would be players on the 3rd and 4th lines.

They're usually used in the context of a player's NHL ceiling.

Thanks. I wanted to make sure there wasn't something I was missing in the overlap of the various "tiers"

[kimzey59]

Can you, or anyone else, please explain the difference between Top 6/Middle 6/Bottom 6? It seems in theory it pertains to best case and worst case scenario for each grouping of lines. For instance, the difference between a middle-6 C from a bottom-6 C is third line C with the possibility to pop and become a second line C or flop and become a fourth line C. Do I have that correct?

Yes. You normally roll 4 lines out in a game, three players per line. 4+3=12

Top 6 would be players on the Top 2 lines.
Middle 6 would be players on lines 2 and 3.
Bottom 6 would be players on the 3rd and 4th lines.

They're usually used in the context of a player's NHL ceiling.

There’s also the context of on-ice expectations.

Top 6 means raw scoring.
Middle 6 means two way play( expected to produce moderate offense on top of good defensive play)
Bottom 6 means defense and physicality.

I would also add that the lines have become a a lot more blurry since the last lockout. Teams used to be a lot more devoted to running 2 scoring lines, a checking line and an energy/enforcer type line. In today’s League it’s a lot more common to have 3 scoring lines and a checking line.

[Ty Webb]

Can you, or anyone else, please explain the difference between Top 6/Middle 6/Bottom 6? It seems in theory it pertains to best case and worst case scenario for each grouping of lines. For instance, the difference between a middle-6 C from a bottom-6 C is third line C with the possibility to pop and become a second line C or flop and become a fourth line C. Do I have that correct?

Yes. You normally roll 4 lines out in a game, three players per line. 4+3=12

Top 6 would be players on the Top 2 lines.
Middle 6 would be players on lines 2 and 3.
Bottom 6 would be players on the 3rd and 4th lines.

They're usually used in the context of a player's NHL ceiling.

There’s also the context of on-ice expectations.

Top 6 means raw scoring.
Middle 6 means two way play( expected to produce moderate offense on top of good defensive play)
Bottom 6 means defense and physicality.

I would also add that the lines have become a a lot more blurry since the last lockout. Teams used to be a lot more devoted to running 2 scoring lines, a checking line and an energy/enforcer type line. In today’s League it’s a lot more common to have 3 scoring lines and a checking line.

Thank you.

[STL fan in MN]

Does anyone know for sure where Gastrin will play this coming season? I know he has signed an NHL contract and played a game in the AHL, but does that mean he can't go back to Sweden for the year? It looks like he will be eligible for the WJC this coming year.

He played 1 playoff game for Hershey so that tells me he made the commitment to come over here for next season and clearly the Caps have already paid the transfer agreement fee to MoDo/the SHL already too. So I would absolutely expect him to be with the T-birds next season.

That said, he’s still only 19 so that is pretty young for the AHL. Totally doable but most kids in his situation would probably play 1 more year in Sweden before coming over. But MoDo failed to gain promotion back up to the SHL next season so maybe Gastrin thought another season in the Allsvenskan wouldn’t be the best for his development. He probably could’ve tried to get MoDo to move him to a team in the SHL but no idea of the details of that. I’m just guessing/spit balling here though.

He could go back to Sweden next season but he’d need the Blues blessing to do it as he’s signed to a NHL contract now. The Blues would have to loan him back to a team over there. I doubt that’s what happens though. Much more likely he’ll be in Springfield IMO. But folks will need to keep in mind he’ll only be 19 and take that into consideration when evaluating his play there. I think he’s going to need a solid amount of development time before he becomes a legit call up option for the Blues. Especially at C. Much harder to break into the NHL as a C than a winger and Gastrin is a natural C.

Oh and yes, he’s eligible for 1 more WJC. He got benched this past WJC but he should hopefully make the team again and have a larger role this time around. With kids playing in N.A. most NHL teams will allow the player to go play in the WJC if they’re playing in the AHL. Usually not if they’re in the NHL. I’d be shocked if Gastrin made the NHL by Dec 2026. I’d expect him to be on Sweden’s WJC team again this next season.

Good.

Sounds like the Blues prefer the scenario I described above in the paragraph that begins “he could”. I think that’s what’s best for him at age 19. Didn’t think that’s the way he’d go since he played that 1 game for Hershey but appears I assumed wrong. And I’m glad I’m wrong as moving to the AHL too soon could stunt him a bit or derail him if he’s not quite ready for that level yet.

And glad they seem to have a SHL home for him as a step up to the SHL from Allsvenskan will still be very good for him. But less jarring as it’ll still be in the same system he’s already used to. Let him adjust to the increased competition and then a year later come over here and adjust to the smaller rink and the differences in the game because of the ice surface difference.

[STL fan in MN]

I recall liking Gastrin last year - had him ranked 25th. He ended up going 37th. He’s a solid prospect. Absolutely a center. Not a winger. Bottom-6 guy though. 3C sort of ceiling with 4C being a reasonable outcome as well.

He was Sweden’s 2C and Captain at the U18s last season and he performed much better than their 1C Anton Frondell (no, he’s not better than Frondell. Frondell was injured and exhausted but just noting Gastrin stepped up to the plate and played well). 10 pts in 7 games. Was Captain and had 10 pts in 5 games for the Swedes at the beginning of the season at the Hlinka tourney too.

This season, he played for MoDo in the Allsvenskan and put up 24 pts in 39 games. Not amazing but that’s actually pretty darn good for an 18 yr old in a pro league. 16th best point production by a U19 player ever actually (you’ll recognize #1 on the list):
https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/ ... 9&sort=tp

I recall seeing a good amount of Gastrin as I watched tape on Hermansson this season. He was absolutely solid.

That said, he then made Sweden’s WJC team this season and was the 4C for the first 6 games. 0 pts. Largely ineffective. He was then benched for the gold medal game and Sweden won the gold. Not sure what happened there.

He then came over and played 1 playoff game for Hershey and now he’s been traded. Guess either the Caps weren’t all too impressed with that 1 game or the Blues insisted on him being included. Idk.

But he’s definitely more than a throw-in. I don’t see him as having middle-6 potential though. He’s bottom-6 all the way. But he brings a lot of things that make for a good bottom-6 C. Think of averaging O.Stenberg and Kaskimaki and that’s the caliber of player I see in Gastrin. For those comparing him to Command, I’d rank Command higher. But still, a solid 3rd piece to this deal.

I don't mean to derail the thread and didn't want to spam the board with a question most probably know the answer to, so I will ask here.

Can you, or anyone else, please explain the difference between Top 6/Middle 6/Bottom 6? It seems in theory it pertains to best case and worst case scenario for each grouping of lines. For instance, the difference between a middle-6 C from a bottom-6 C is third line C with the possibility to pop and become a second line C or flop and become a fourth line C. Do I have that correct?

Yeah, that’s sort of it. Others have already explained it well but I’ll add my 2¢.

I’d say the terms maybe mean a little different things depending on if you’re referring to a prospect’s potential or an established player’s current usage.

With a prospect, when I use terms like top-6, middle-6, bottom-6 etc, it’s to give an approximate of where I see that player likely ending up after they develop. For example, I’d describe McKenna, Stenberg and Bjorck as having 1st line potential. Maybe even higher. Malhotra and a borderline 1st line/top-6 guy. Klepov and Cullen as top-6. Lawrence as middle-6. Command as middle-6 but much more leaning towards 3C than 2C. Dagenais and Rogowski as bottom-6. That said, projections based on age 17/18 seasons are fairly fluid. A player really popping or stumbling can change those projections in a hurry.

For an established player, those ranges are more to describe where they fall into a current lineup. So while it’d be accurate to call Thomas a top-6 player, it’s even more accurate to call him a 1st liner or 1C IMO. Snuggerud is top-6. Suter is middle-6. Neighbours is middle-6. We have a lot of middle-6 players. We could use more top-6 players. Players that when you think of them you think, this is absolutely a player that should be on one of the top 2 lines. A middle-6 player is a player that’s somewhere in the range of a 2nd/3rd liner. Both a top-6 guy and a middle-6 guy might both find themselves on a team’s 2nd line but the top-6 guy should be better overall in theory.

[Ty Webb]

I recall liking Gastrin last year - had him ranked 25th. He ended up going 37th. He’s a solid prospect. Absolutely a center. Not a winger. Bottom-6 guy though. 3C sort of ceiling with 4C being a reasonable outcome as well.

He was Sweden’s 2C and Captain at the U18s last season and he performed much better than their 1C Anton Frondell (no, he’s not better than Frondell. Frondell was injured and exhausted but just noting Gastrin stepped up to the plate and played well). 10 pts in 7 games. Was Captain and had 10 pts in 5 games for the Swedes at the beginning of the season at the Hlinka tourney too.

This season, he played for MoDo in the Allsvenskan and put up 24 pts in 39 games. Not amazing but that’s actually pretty darn good for an 18 yr old in a pro league. 16th best point production by a U19 player ever actually (you’ll recognize #1 on the list):
https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/ ... 9&sort=tp

I recall seeing a good amount of Gastrin as I watched tape on Hermansson this season. He was absolutely solid.

That said, he then made Sweden’s WJC team this season and was the 4C for the first 6 games. 0 pts. Largely ineffective. He was then benched for the gold medal game and Sweden won the gold. Not sure what happened there.

He then came over and played 1 playoff game for Hershey and now he’s been traded. Guess either the Caps weren’t all too impressed with that 1 game or the Blues insisted on him being included. Idk.

But he’s definitely more than a throw-in. I don’t see him as having middle-6 potential though. He’s bottom-6 all the way. But he brings a lot of things that make for a good bottom-6 C. Think of averaging O.Stenberg and Kaskimaki and that’s the caliber of player I see in Gastrin. For those comparing him to Command, I’d rank Command higher. But still, a solid 3rd piece to this deal.

I don't mean to derail the thread and didn't want to spam the board with a question most probably know the answer to, so I will ask here.

Can you, or anyone else, please explain the difference between Top 6/Middle 6/Bottom 6? It seems in theory it pertains to best case and worst case scenario for each grouping of lines. For instance, the difference between a middle-6 C from a bottom-6 C is third line C with the possibility to pop and become a second line C or flop and become a fourth line C. Do I have that correct?

Yeah, that’s sort of it. Others have already explained it well but I’ll add my 2¢.

I’d say the terms maybe mean a little different things depending on if you’re referring to a prospect’s potential or an established player’s current usage.

With a prospect, when I use terms like top-6, middle-6, bottom-6 etc, it’s to give an approximate of where I see that player likely ending up after they develop. For example, I’d describe McKenna, Stenberg and Bjorck as having 1st line potential. Maybe even higher. Malhotra and a borderline 1st line/top-6 guy. Klepov and Cullen as top-6. Lawrence as middle-6. Command as middle-6 but much more leaning towards 3C than 2C. Dagenais and Rogowski as bottom-6. That said, projections based on age 17/18 seasons are fairly fluid. A player really popping or stumbling can change those projections in a hurry.

For an established player, those ranges are more to describe where they fall into a current lineup. So while it’d be accurate to call Thomas a top-6 player, it’s even more accurate to call him a 1st liner or 1C IMO. Snuggerud is top-6. Suter is middle-6. Neighbours is middle-6. We have a lot of middle-6 players. We could use more top-6 players. Players that when you think of them you think, this is absolutely a player that should be on one of the top 2 lines. A middle-6 player is a player that’s somewhere in the range of a 2nd/3rd liner. Both a top-6 guy and a middle-6 guy might both find themselves on a team’s 2nd line but the top-6 guy should be better overall in theory.

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. And the difference between a prospect and an established player makes perfect sense.

[stljrs]

For what it’s worth, below is one write up by Pronman last year. Several mocks had him in the late first round. Definitely not a throw in. And on the younger side in his draft year. Plenty of time to develop

June 2, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 37 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average


Analysis: Gastrin is a good-sized center who skates well and competes hard. The captain of Sweden’s age group, he’s a responsible two-way player who creates offense at the net front very well. He has skill, and while I would not describe him as a dynamic offensive type by any means, he makes enough plays to go with his responsible two-way play to make me think he could be a middle-six NHL center.

[STL fan in MN]

For what it’s worth, below is one write up by Pronman last year. Several mocks had him in the late first round. Definitely not a throw in. And on the younger side in his draft year. Plenty of time to develop

June 2, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 37 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average


Analysis: Gastrin is a good-sized center who skates well and competes hard. The captain of Sweden’s age group, he’s a responsible two-way player who creates offense at the net front very well. He has skill, and while I would not describe him as a dynamic offensive type by any means, he makes enough plays to go with his responsible two-way play to make me think he could be a middle-six NHL center.

Compete: High-end

[Harry York 37]

For what it’s worth, below is one write up by Pronman last year. Several mocks had him in the late first round. Definitely not a throw in. And on the younger side in his draft year. Plenty of time to develop

June 2, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 37 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average


Analysis: Gastrin is a good-sized center who skates well and competes hard. The captain of Sweden’s age group, he’s a responsible two-way player who creates offense at the net front very well. He has skill, and while I would not describe him as a dynamic offensive type by any means, he makes enough plays to go with his responsible two-way play to make me think he could be a middle-six NHL center.

Compete: High-end

Ain’t it grand?

I happy he, like RT and Buchy, and others, will not be expected to fight and win battles in order to feed a Winger who is very likely to throw it away to avoid a possible hit. Even in situations that can decide a game.

Blues fans who value compete in players are breathing a hell of a lot easier nowadays.
I know I am.

Back to lurking.
I got my wish and I am duly grateful.

[27-12-16]

For what it’s worth, below is one write up by Pronman last year. Several mocks had him in the late first round. Definitely not a throw in. And on the younger side in his draft year. Plenty of time to develop

June 2, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 37 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average


Analysis: Gastrin is a good-sized center who skates well and competes hard. The captain of Sweden’s age group, he’s a responsible two-way player who creates offense at the net front very well. He has skill, and while I would not describe him as a dynamic offensive type by any means, he makes enough plays to go with his responsible two-way play to make me think he could be a middle-six NHL center.

Compete: High-end

Ain’t it grand?

I happy he, like RT and Buchy, and others, will not be expected to fight and win battles in order to feed a Winger who is very likely to throw it away to avoid a possible hit. Even in situations that can decide a game.

Blues fans who value compete in players are breathing a hell of a lot easier nowadays.
I know I am.

Back to lurking.
I got my wish and I am duly grateful.

Facts.... Great post!

[82birds]

For what it’s worth, below is one write up by Pronman last year. Several mocks had him in the late first round. Definitely not a throw in. And on the younger side in his draft year. Plenty of time to develop

June 2, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 37 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average


Analysis: Gastrin is a good-sized center who skates well and competes hard. The captain of Sweden’s age group, he’s a responsible two-way player who creates offense at the net front very well. He has skill, and while I would not describe him as a dynamic offensive type by any means, he makes enough plays to go with his responsible two-way play to make me think he could be a middle-six NHL center.

thx for that ^

[Section315]

Sounds like Otto Stenberg?

[kimzey59]

Sounds like Otto Stenberg?

Anymore; sounds like "standard issue Swedish player".
There's a definite mold that Sweden is implementing in their development program.