There has already been more than enough focus on what William Stromgren is not.
That would be Logan Stankoven.
Some fans will forever lament that when the Calgary Flames made their second-round pick at the 2021 NHL Draft, they selected Stromgren rather than Stankoven. In the few minutes that they were on the clock at No. 45 overall, there was a plenty of social-media pleading for the Kamloops Blazers’ buzzsaw, who would instead go two slots later.
It’s a storyline that Stromgren can’t — and could never — control. But it must be tough on a young man at 19, 20 or 21 to tune out the comparisons and criticisms, especially when you hear other prospects talk about the way they’re fuelled by the excitement they’ve generated and the compliments that pop up online. Everybody wants to be the popular pick.
Sure, Stankoven would have been a home run and has been elsewhere.
Stromgren didn’t make that decision, though. The scouts did. He has done all the Flames could ask, which is to progress and push for his own opportunity to make a name for himself at the NHL level.
Now 22, the left winger logged his big-league debut in Wednesday’s 4-1 loss in Montreal. While he wasn’t thrilled with his performance, saying he’s “gotta bring more,” you shouldn’t judge a book by only the first page or first paragraph.
“Everybody has different journeys,” Stromgren told Postmedia before the Flames departed on a five-game trip that continues with Thursday’s battle against the Bruins in Boston. “I’m just happy to be here now. Mostly just for myself and that other stuff doesn’t really affect any of it. I’ve made it now and now I just want to stay.
“Take it all in, for sure. But it all comes down to business. You want to take a spot from somebody, which is how the hockey world works.”
Stromgren’s hometown is a hockey hotbed
Stromgren hails from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, which has been a factory for NHL stars.
The welcome sign features more Hockey Hall of Fame names than umlauts. Peter Forsberg and the Sedin twins — Daniel and Henrik — are already in, with at least one more to follow.
“There was a timeframe there in my hometown that it was just absurd how many guys came up and came over here to North America and just did everything right, I would say,” said Stromgren, who followed those others through the famed MoDo program. “You had Peter Forsberg. You had (Markus) Naslund. You had the Sedins. You have Victor Hedman now, (Adrian) Kempe, a lot of guys.
“It’s kind of slowed down, but it’s just great seeing how good our hometown was back in the day. I think that kind of made it explode a little bit for guys to know that you can come from a small city and still make it and they can become legendary, like some guys did. It’s great to see.
“I was still young when I watched those guys, but just hearing stories about how they were when they were playing junior, it was awesome to hear.”
A snowstorm in Örnsköldsvik unfortunately prevented Stromgren’s family from a short-notice trip to Montreal to witness his solo lap and first NHL outing.
In 8:04 of ice time against the Habs, all of that at even-strength, his biggest contributions were two penalties drawn. He was hooked by Phillip Danault and slashed by Brendan Gallagher.
He was hoping he wouldn’t get hacked again as Flames head coach Ryan Huska filled out his lineup sheet Thursday in Boston.
“The thing that we try to put in his head is you belong there,” Flames director of player development Ray Edwards stressed when Stromgren was rewarded with his first promotion after 173 career appearances in the AHL. “You deserve it. You’ve done the work. So don’t go up there with eyes wide open and gawking and in awe of everything. You have to go and act like you belong, and that’s always the toughest thing.
“Because you’re so excited to be there and it’s the first callup or first game. But then the reality kicks in that, ‘If I want to stay here, I have to perform and I have to do it every day and I have to be good every shift.’ So it’s all rosy the first day. But then it’s, ‘OK, I have to get the job done.’”
Stromgren’s path to the NHL
After starting his pro climb in the Swedish Hockey League, Stromgren is now in his third full season in North America.
Sensing that he’d sooner than later be their teammate on the Flames, Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson even invited him to join their families for Christmas Eve — or ‘Julafton,’ as they say in their home country — last winter.
If you follow the Wranglers, the appeal was always obvious.
At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Stromgren is lanky enough to be elusive and lengthy enough that puck protection has become one of his strengths.
His skating is another plus.
He has registered more assists than any other Flames’ farm-clubber over the past season and half. While he’s a crafty playmaker, the coaches sometimes give him crap for not shooting often enough.
Stromgren had his finest AHL stretch just before his callup, bursting for nine points — including four goals — over a dynamite four-game span.
“I think his game has come so far,” said Brett Sutter, who was the captain of the Wranglers when Stromgren arrived and is now head coach for the Flames’ affiliate. “When he came over, he was a little perimeter. But I think if you look at where his game has come to now, he is probably our most physical forward.
“He fights for body position. He is able to keep guys away from him so much with that reach and he has such a good shot that when he gets inside and he’s using it, he’s a dangerous player.”
“Obviously the points, he’s been backin’ them up lately,” Edwards echoed. “But what he’s done is he’s been more consistent with his competitiveness and moving his feet. And when he moves his feet and he checks and uses that stick and breaks up plays, then he has the puck more. And when he has the puck, he’s really dangerous.
“We have to keep on him about attacking and keep shooting more because he gets into position a lot of times to score and he does like to pass first. So he’s going to have to be a little more selfish at times and take the opportunity when he has it.”
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Perhaps that will help him win over some of the fans who wish the Flames had passed on him.
Stromgren can’t help that there will always be some focus on what he isn’t.
But he has been waiting for this chance to show what he can be.
He received the good news last Sunday, shortly after the Wranglers were shut out on home ice.
His first thought was back to Örnsköldsvik. He couldn’t wait to tell his father, Jens-Peder, who didn’t mind that it was well past midnight.
“I always promised I would call him first,” Stromgren said. “That phone call was unbelievable. It was kind of a surreal moment for both of us. We kind of sat on the phone, just quiet for a moment there, just taking it all in. It was awesome.
“He just said, ‘Congrats’ and that he’s proud of me. It’s been a hell of a journey, but it’s all been worth it, for sure.”