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Draft picks Andersson, Cameron offer superb two-way smarts ...
By Matthew Wuest - www.RedWingsCentral.com
June 28, 2007

Joakim Andersson and Randy Cameron aren’t prospects who will electrify you with blazing speed, crafty one-on-one moves or bullet shots.

But both of them have the foundation to one day play a responsible, two-way NHL game, and that’s why the Detroit Red Wings drafted them.

Andersson, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound left-winger with Frolunda of Sweden’s under-20 league, went in the third round (88th overall), while Cameron, a five-foot-11, 187-pound center with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats, went in the fifth round (148th overall).

The Red Wings ranked Andersson as a late first-rounder and management believes he has the ability to one day play in the NHL.

“He plays a strong two-way game, he’s got good size and he’s strong on the puck,” Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. “He’s a cross between (Dallas Stars forward) Joel Lundqvist and (Red Wings forward) Johan Franzen, but he’s got a better touch than Franzen at the same age.”

Andersson is the type of responsible, hard-edged competitor who could anchor a third line, but he also has enough skill and vision to chip in on a scoring line. He had 20 goals and 26 assists for 46 points in 41 games last season and is on the verge of playing in the Swedish Elite League.

One thing that holds him back is his skating.

“He’s got to work on his skating, speed-wise, a little bit,” Nill said. “He’s not really a smooth skater at this point.”

Cameron, meanwhile, is a couple of cuts below Andersson as a prospect, but he is similar in that he plays a responsible game. He had 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points in 70 games to go along with a team-worst minus-21 rating and a 50.2 percent success rate on faceoffs.

“He’s got a great head for the game — he does all the little things well, and that’s what I like about him,” Nill said. “If he can get stronger, he can be a little bit like a (Ottawa Senators forward) Mike Fisher.”

That said, Cameron isn’t a punishing hitter. He had just 29 hits last season.

“He’s physical, he’s intense, but he doesn’t run around bowling guys over,” Nill said. “He’s really smart defensively, he’s a good puck-chaser, he’s good on draws and he’s responsible. I just really like his all-around game.”

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