Islanders draft pick Calle Odelius was 'shocked' he fell to late second round

If it were up to his agent, Calle Odelius, the 65th pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, would have left Bell Centre after not being selected early on day two.

"My feeling was late 1st round, that is what my agents told me, the 18-year-old shared with Michel Anderson on Deckhands: The Islanders Prospect Channel. "They heard nothing but late first round. They said to we give five picks the second day then we leave if you're not picked."

The Islanders are glad he stayed in his seat and on the board when they made their first selection with the last pick of the second round.

""I was kinda shocked that I dropped that much, but it's not bad to end up in the second round...I'm pretty happy I dropped to (the) late second round to get to the Islanders and their organization.""

- Calle Odelius

In the interview, Odelius talks about the process leading up to draft day, (including a two-hour math quiz from the Islanders), his relationship with his brother, and breaks down his game. "I think I am a good skating two-way defenseman who can set up my teammates for good scoring chances," said the Swedish blueliner, who added that he molds his game after Devon Toews and Shea Theodore.

Odelius signed a 3-year entry-level contract with the Islanders last Friday. The deal is worth $2.85 million and carries a cap hit of it $870,000. He confirmed to Anderson he has a two-year contract with Djurgårdens IF but his plan is to come over to North America and professionally in the Islanders organization after next season.

The smooth-skating defenseman had seven goals and 23 assists in 43 games for the Swedish Junior League team last year. Djurgårdens IF will play in the Swedish second-tier ice hockey league, the HockeyAllsvenskan this upcoming season.