2018 NHL Draft: Rounds 2-7

DALLAS - The Sabres drafted Rasmus Dahlin last night. General manager Jason Botterill and his staff added four more defenseman (three with Swedish roots) and a centerman on Saturday.
Here's how the day played out:

The selections

Round 2, Pick 1 (32nd Overall)MATTIAS SAMUELSSON
Position: Defense
Team: United States National U-18 Team (USHL)
Height: 6'4" // Weight: 218 lbs.
Shoots: Left
WRITTEN FEATURE: Former teammate believes Samuelsson will complement Dahlin

Ranked 21st among North American-based skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Samuelsson finsihed his season with the NTDP with 28 points (9+19) and 107 penalty minutes in 50 games
Samuelsson checked in at No. 20 on Kris Baker's Top 31 countdown.

Bakes' Take:
A responsible defensive defenseman with fast developing two-way upside, Mattias Samuelsson has the tools and mindset to become a safe and simple middle-pair NHL anchor a few years down the line.
Samuelsson stands out with his stout defensive posture augmented by impressive size and skating. At 6-foot-4 and already closing in on 220 pounds, he moves about with agile footwork and above-average four-way mobility. He's disciplined with how he uses his big frame to shut down the attack, but he's not just a big guy who cancels out his checks as he is also disruptive force that regularly gets his stick on the puck.

NHL.com profiled him back in February. Here's a sampling of that feature:
Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team got help developing into a top prospect for the 2018 NHL Draft from a very close source.
His father, Kjell Samuelsson, was a defenseman for 14 seasons in the NHL and is in his fifth season as development coach for the Philadelphia Flyers.
"We have father/son talks like any other relationship, but there's other times where it's business and he'll act like I'm one of his players, tell me what I'm doing wrong or what I need to do better," Mattias said. "I know it's out of pure love so I don't take offense by any of it. I know it's good for my career."
So far, it's been good enough to earn Mattias the No. 17 spot on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters.
"He utilizes his size as a strength," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "Defensively he stands out. He understands the role. He plays within his means. He moves well for his size, he doesn't over-handle the puck. He does know how to utilize his size asset and he does know how to utilize it within the rules. He doesn't go out of his way to run guys, hit guys. His 1-on-1 game, he makes sure he handles his checks. On the defensive side of the puck he's responsible with it."
Samuelsson is committed to continuing his development at Western Michigan University next season, but NTDP coach Seth Appert is confident that he will follow his father into the NHL.
"Mattias Samuelsson is going to be a top-three defenseman on some NHL team for the next 15-plus years," Appert said. "He's going to eat minutes, he's going to help you win and he's going to be miserable to play against."
Round 4, Pick 1 (94th Overall)MATEJ PEKAR
Position: Center
Team: Muskegon (USHL)
Height: 6'0" // Weight: 170 lbs.
Shoots: Left
WRITTEN FEATURE: Pekar 'never imagined' being drafted into NHL

Born in Turnov in the Czech Republic, Pekar capped off his first season in the USHL with 56 points (14+40) in 56 games for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He was named USHL Rookie of the Year and to the USHL All-Rookie Team after tying for the league lead among first-year skaters.
Pekar is the second straight Lumberjacks player and second Muskegon player ever to win USHL Rookie of the Year, joining 2017 USHL Rookie of the Year Andrei Svechnikov, who was drafted second overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Pekar was listed 87th among North American-based skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the midterm rankings and jumped up over 30 spots to 55th in the final rankings.
He is committed to play for Miami University (Ohio) this upcoming season.
Round 4, Pick 24 (117th Overall)
LINUS LINDSTRAND CRONHOLM
Position: Defense
Team: Malmö Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Height: 6'1" // Weight: 172 lbs.
Shoots: Left
Cronholm spent most of last season playing for Malmo's U20 team in Sweden's SuperElit League, where he posted six assists in 37 games. He also appeared in 18 games for Malmo's U18 team and recorded 16 points (6+10) and a plus-8 rating.
Round 5, Pick 1 (125th Overall)
MISKA KUKKONEN
Position: Defense
Team: Ilves Jr. (Finland-Jr.)
Height: 6'0" // Weight: 198 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Kukkonen, a native of Jokioinen, Finland, has recorded 12 points (3+9) and a plus-6 rating in 36 games for Ilves of Finland's junior league during the last two seasons.
Round 7, Pick 1 (187th Overall)
WILLIAM WORGE KREU
Position: Defense
Team: Linköpings HC (Sweden-Jr.)
Height: 6'6" // Weight: 172 lbs.
Shoots: Left
Kreu spent most of his 2017-18 campaign playing for Linkoping's U20 team in Sweden's SuperElit League, where he recorded 14 points (3+11) and a plus-6 rating in 38 games. He also scored two goals in nine games for Linkoping's U18 squad and made his SHL debut, playing one game for Linkoping's senior team.