Victor Eklund (LW, R, 6’0″, 165, Djurgardens, 10/03/2006)
Victor Eklund is a dynamic, high-motor winger with elite skating, high-end creativity, and goal scoring instincts. His explosive speed, quickness in tight spaces, and ability to generate offensive opportunities make him one of the most interesting prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft class. Eklund excels in transition, forcing defenders to retreat with his speed and creating high-danger chances through his agility and puck-handling skills. Despite his offensive prowess, Eklund must improve his puck management, passing consistency, and ability to contribute defensively to reach his potential as an impactful top-six NHL forward.
Strengths:
Skating and Agility:
Elite edgework and balance, allowing him to change direction and create space in tight areas and when an opponent is on his back.
Explosive acceleration and top-end speed make him a constant threat in both offensive and defensive transition.
Quick and elusive skater who can spin off checks and evade defenders while keeping his eyes up.
Offensive Creativity:
Above average puck handler with the ability to generate Grade “A” scoring opportunities even in 1-on-2 situations through changes in angles and speed.
Thrives in tight spaces, using quick spins and dekes to attack the slot for Grade “A” scoring opportunities.
Combines quick decision-making with high hockey IQ to consistently generate dangerous scoring chances.
Compete Level:
Relentless motor and willingness to engage physically despite his size.
Regularly wins puck battles, leveraging strength on his stick, quickness and leverage to gain an edge.
Non-stop effort on every shift, showcasing second, third, and fourth efforts to regain possession or create offense.
Transition Game:
Forces defenders to retreat as quickly as possible with his speed and attacking mentality.
Excels at carrying the puck through the neutral zone and into high-danger areas.
Quick-strike offensive style makes him a constant threat off the rush.
Shot and Playmaking:
Displays a shoot-first mentality, averaging 5 shot attempts per game with 2.7 hitting the net.
Accurate and deceptive release, particularly effective in tight scoring areas.
Will move pucks to open teammates when lanes are unavailable, but is definitely getting the puck to the net as quickly as possible.
Areas for Improvement:
Defensive Play:
Despite his elite skating ability he is currently not used on the penalty kill, highlighting a need to develop defensive details and reliability.
Can drift while puck watching in defensive coverage, leaving gaps when in zone coverage or losing his assignment in man-to-man coverage.
Must improve positioning and awareness to contribute effectively in all situations.
Puck Management:
Averages 4 giveaways per game, which tells us that he has always relied on his speed to get himself out of trouble and that tactic does not work in the National League.
Needs to balance his creativity with smarter puck distribution to limit turnovers.
Passing Consistency:
Completes just 83% of his passing attempts, indicating once his mind is made up he is going to try to make the play no matter what is in his way.
He can overcomplicate simple passing plays.
Simplifying his passing game could improve his ability to sustain offensive zone pressure which will lead to a greater shift to shift offensive impact.
Physicality and Strength:
At 165 lbs, adding muscle to his frame will help him better handle physical battles and improve his durability at higher levels.
Despite winning 50% of puck battles, increased strength will make him more effective in contested situations.
2024/25 Season with Djurgardens IF:
Averaging 15:01 of ice time per game, including 2:52 on the power play.
Maintains a high shot volume with 5 attempts per game, generating consistent offensive chances.
Regularly wins puck battles and creates turnovers with 2.2 takeaways per game.
International Play with Team Sweden:
Demonstrated his ability to process and create at high speeds, excelling in transition against top competition.
Showed a consistent ability to generate offense from both individual efforts and teamwork.
Projection
Victor Eklund’s blend of speed, creativity, and offensive production gives him the potential to be a high-impact top-six forward in the NHL. His ability to generate scoring chances and his relentless compete level make him a fan-favorite type of player. To solidify his draft stock as a first-round pick, Eklund must continue refining his puck management, defensive awareness, and physical strength. With these improvements, he could develop into a dynamic offensive force capable of excelling in high-pressure situations.
Draft Outlook: Mid first-round pick with potential to rise into the top-10 with an impactful World Jr. Championship.
Player Comparison: Jesper Bratt – A smaller, creative winger with explosive skating, high-end offensive instincts, and a relentless work ethic.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images