Neutral Zone focused on players eligible for the 2024 NHL draft.
| Willie Johansson | Farjestad BK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | C | 5’10” | 171 | Karlstad, SWE | 2005 | 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Johansson is an undersized center who was all over the ice here today finishing with an assist in 19 minutes of play. He has excellent feet, showed great acceleration out of his first step. He was aggressive on forechecks, creating havoc below the dots and throwing his light frame in on defenders. He was a main piece on Farjestad’s PK up front playing nearly 5 minutes. He was credited with 2 blocks, kept his stick in lanes and defended hard with starts and stops.
| Albert Wikman | Farjestad BK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | D | 6’1″ | 191 | Karlstad, SWE | 2005 | 2022-2023: B- |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Wikman is an averaged size defenseman who’s Smooth skating, minute eater for Farjestad. While not overly big he uses, his skating and stick to get in on guys to defend in his on end. Can spin off guys and showed excellent mobility to get north pushing pucks up the ice. Used his feet and smarts to use all areas of the ice and then have the wherewithal to jump into the play and make himself an option to receive pucks. He was quick to move pucks, didn’t overhandle it, move quick and to the tape. He played 25 minutes in this win with 2 primary assists.
| Gabriel Melin | Farjestad BK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | RW | 6’2″ | 183 | Hemse, SWE | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Melin is a long, athletic winger who plays the flank on the PP. Excellent poise and patience, can really distribute the puck under pressure or with time. Made a nice play on the 3rd goal coming out of the corner and hitting far man cutting to net. He finished with 3 assists in 17 minutes of ice.
| Noel Styrenius | Farjestad BK J20 | J20 Nationell | R | D | 6’1″ | 174 | Varmland, SWE | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Styrenius is an 05 who played on the top paid with Wikman, eating a ton of minutes in this one. He played 25 minutes finishing with a goal and 2 assists and 3 shots. He has above average size, while still a little light for his frame and good mobility. He was active along the line. Was aggressive when pucks came his way looking to shoot down the wall or cut in and create chances in center ice.
| Lucas Kling | Farjestad BK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | C | 6’3″ | 201 | Skara, SWE | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Kling if a big, physical Power Forward type player. After playing a bit for the U18 team he came into this one with 8 points in 13 games. His first step and burst can continue to improve but he was a force below the dots. He was constantly around the net creating traffic for point shots and havoc on scrambles. His presence paid off on Farjestad’s 4th goal of the game, a PP goal banging home a rebound. While he finished -2 he was a key contributor on both the PP and PK and finished with 4 shots and 53% in the face-off circle.
| Elliot Stahlberg | Farjestad BK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | RW | 6’0″ | 181 | Karlstad, SWE | 2005 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Stahlberg is a big-bodied power forward type. He played one of the flanks on the PP. His biggest asset is his shot. He has a quick release and can seemingly get it off wherever he is in the offensive zone. Scored a beauty receiving a feed coming into the zone, cutting into the center and just wiring one under the crossbar. He played with a ton of compete, while not a burner he used his speed to be aggressive on the puck and won a fair share of 50/50 pucks. Was one of if not the most physical players in this game. Played over 20 minutes scoring once on his 5 shots.
| Jack Berglund | Farjestad BK J20 | J20 Nationell | L | LW | 6’2″ | 196 | Karlstad, SWE | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Power Forward with excellent size and a knack for getting to the net. He was hard on pucks, used his strength to lean in on defenders and create separation from the puck. He made a nice feed from his own blue line to a cutting forward who got in behind the D for a breakaway opportunity. He played 19 minutes, played on the 2nd PP unit finishing with a goal and 75% in the circle.
| Wille Magnertoft | Malmo | SHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 154 | Malmo, SWE | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Magnertoft is a big, strong athletic forward. He was hard on pucks, battle level needs to be more consistent though. Good straight line speed, showed glimpses of it coming through the neutral zone.
| Dominik Badinka | Malmo Redhawks J20 | J20 Nationell | R | D | 6’2″ | 172 | Chomutov, CZE | 2005 | 2023-2024: A- |
Game Grade: A
Comments: Badinka is a long, rangy right-shot D. He’s a strong skater, showed some hop in his stride, can really get going off the hop. He showed exceptional poise and confidence with the puck. Played excellent angles and used his sized to ride guys off on the rush.. Big shot from the point, quick release and one-timer. Excellent at getting pucks through traffic. The 2024 draft eligible player showed an amazing calmness in his game.
| Max Vilen | Malmo Redhawks J20 | J20 Nationell | L | D | 6’2″ | 190 | Hammarlov, SWE | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Vilen is another long, athletic defenseman here for Malmo. While he doesn’t have the offensive punch as Badinka he showed good mobility for his size and age. He played within himself here, not forcing pucks and making smart plays along the line and in his own end. Vilen ended up playing 15 minutes here, finished with an assist and was playing big minutes on the PK.
| Oskar Kind Bakkevig | Malmo Redhawks J20 | J20 Nationell | L | RW | 5’11” | 172 | Oslo, NOR | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Mid-sized forward with speed and a knack for being around the net. Scored two goals here, the 1st was on a miscommunication play between the goalie and defender, essentially an empty net and the 2nd goal was excellent tic, tac toe play that he started then went to the net for tip in.
| Hjalte Kruse Thomsen | Malmo | SHL | L | RW | 5’10” | 154 | Herning, DEN | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Thomsen showed quick feet, excellent burst. Shifty/edges, quick puck mover. High-end skater, excellent edge work and speed. Spun off defenders multiple times in ozone and neutral zone to create room for himself. Can be high-risk/high-reward player with some of his decision making in the middle of the ice. He finished the night with an assist and 3 shots.
| Freddie Larsson | Malmo | SHL | L | F | 6’3″ | 194 | Vermont | 2024 | Helsingborg, SWE | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Larsson has good size, can buzz in open ice, good acceleration. High-IQ, great touch on his feeds coming out of the zone. Plays in all situations, first PK, good stops and starts. Slippery off the walls can shift and twirl off defenders. Plays with a ton of energy and pace. Finished the night with 2 primary assists and 8 shots.
| Filip Sitar | Malmo Redhawks J20 | J20 Nationell | R | C | 5’11” | 176 | Ljubljana, SLO | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: High-end offensive talent. Quick hands, dynamic in space. Made a nice delay on entry hitting trailing d-man for first goal. So shifty and smooth on his edges Quick release, quick catch and shoot. Uses speed and body to push off defenders, scored beautiful goal working off defenders, cutting to center ice and ripping one up top. had a goal and 2 assists tonight on 5 shots.
| Daniel Alexander Jencko | Malmo | SHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 170 | Humenne, SVK | 2005 | 2023-2024: B-2022-2023: C+ |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Smart, hard two-way player. The glue guy on that top line with Larsson and Sitar. First in on pucks, created time and space for his linemates. Plays with speed and smarts, works as a distributor on that top line.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images