Photo Caption: Colin Jensen
Back in 2003 the Atlanta Thrashers drafted a young man from Nordingra, Sweden in the 8th round (239th overall and coincidentally six spots ahead of another young guy named Dustin Byfuglien out of Roseau, Minnesota who would become his defecnce partner a few years later). Tobias Enstrom would play defence for MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik of the Swedish Elite League for five seasons before coming to North America.
He began his NHL career during the 2007-08 campaign and for that one and the next two seasons he would play in all 82 games for the Atlanta Thrashers. His lowest (non-lockout) total games was 60 back in 2014-15 when he underwent shoulder surgery that ended his season. Last year he played 72 games before he had to have knee surgery which ended his season for the Jets.
The quiet Swede is healthy and will be relied upon heavily this season by Jets coach Paul Maurice, especially with Jacob Trouba not being an option to help on that left side of the ice. The team has thrown Josh Morrissey into the lineup on the left side but Enstrom is seen by Maurice as his workhorse for that side. While we are only two games into the year his average time on ice is already up this year clocking in at a shade over 22 minutes. His possession metrics have always been solid including a corsi for % in all situations generally above 50% and the same goes for fenwick for % in all situations.
When asked about Enstrom following yesterday’s skate coach Maurice indicated “he needed the surgery, he got healthy, he had a great camp and he’s been our best defenceman over two games.”
He followed up that comment with this one discussing the things that Enstrom brings to the Jets on a nightly basis “Puck movement, his breakouts, the defensive side, the PK, he looks better now than anytime I can remember him. He’s got a lot of jump.”
While the Jacob Trouba situation remains in limbo expect the Jets bench boss to continue to rely upon the steady skill of veteran Tobias Enstrom.
