The Canes, continuing to select players with size and strength, have taken forward Mattias Lindstrom of Sweden in the third round. He was the 88th overall pick.
Lindstrom, 6-4 and 203 pounds, is described as a strong two-way player who has a very physical game. He is a native of Lulea, Sweden.
Lindstrom played most of last season with Skelleftea of the Swedish Junior League but also played seven games with the Skelleftea senior team.
"He is a very, very big man already," Rutherford said. "He played in the men's league in Sweden and actually put a scare into a lot of guys there in the men's league.
"He goes to the net, he plays in front of the net, he works the corners, he plays a realy physical game. One of the areas he needs to work on is the skating, but usually to be that big at this age it takes them a little while with their skating to catch up."
Lindstrom is the Canes' first draft pick from Sweden since taking Magnus Akerlund with the fifth pick in 2004.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at