from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Liam Dower Nilsson received strong endorsements from Hakan Andersson, who has unearthed many European draft gems, and teammates on his Swedish national squad.

It prompted the Detroit Red Wings to select him with the 134th pick this year, in the fifth round.

Could he end up being a steal?

“I see myself as a steal, yes,” Dower Nilsson said. “Because I knew I have that in me and I know that I’m going to make the NHL in four or five years, three years maybe. I know it someday.

“I think the most important skill you got to have is to be motivated and be patient and be aware of what it takes to get there. I think I got those things.”

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman called Dower Nilsson (6-0, 172) a “high character, good, solid, two-way, responsible centerman.”

Director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said Andersson, the Red Wings’ longtime European scout, was “pounding the table” for Dower Nilsson. He served as captain for Sweden at this year’s Under-18 World Championships in Dallas, where Detroit’s brass did more vetting.

“As we were interviewing a lot of Swedish prospects, we always (ask), ‘Of the prospects on your team and at the U-18, who would you want to take to the NHL to be a teammate?’ " Draper said. “The majority of the players on that team said Liam Dower Nilsson. That stuck out to us.

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