Love Harenstam (G, L, 6’1″, 185, Lulea HF J20, 01/18/2007)
Love Harenstam is an athletic, highly competitive goaltender who has emerged as one of Sweden’s most intriguing 2007-born netminders. He combines quick feet, explosive post-to-post movement, and confident body language with strong foundational positioning and mental resilience. While not undersized by junior standards, at 6’1″, his NHL projection will ultimately depend on his ability to improve situational processing and crease patience to compensate for a lack of elite NHL length. That said, Harenstam checks many boxes you want in a young goalie: he wins games, plays big in the net, and brings an energetic presence between the pipes.
Why Love Harenstam Should Be an NHL Draft Pick
- Elite Athleticism and Lateral Explosiveness
Harenstam’s post-to-post coverage is a standout trait. His explosive lateral pushes and strong hip flexibility allow him to handle wraparounds, royal-road passes, and net-front scrambles effectively. In international competition, he’s shown he can make highlight-reel saves consistently thanks to quick reads and top-tier athletic tools. - Compete and Confidence
Love competes with visible intensity. He battles for pucks and plays with urgency in scramble situations. Even when giving up goals, he resets well. His body language remains confident, and his motor never shuts off. - Solid Base Mechanics and Crease Management
He tracks to the top of his crease with purpose, then retreats as the play develops. He demonstrates good crease depth awareness, frequent shoulder checks, and decent posture tracking. His post-play integration is clean and structured, aided by powerful lower-body mechanics. - Technical Refinement in Progress
His head is constantly on a swivel, and he recognizes second-layer threats. While raw at times, the building blocks are in place for a refined, structured game.
Why Love Harenstam Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick
- Size and Projection Risk
At 6’1″, Harenstam is below the NHL average for starting goaltenders, and he does not yet display the game management and efficiency required to offset that. He sometimes relies too heavily on athleticism and flailing recovery movements, which can leave him off-balance and expose his net. - Puck Tracking and Patience Under Duress
There are still inconsistencies with overactive crease movement. While aggressive by nature, he must learn to quiet his feet, read rushes more deliberately, and play under control — especially against teams that move the puck laterally or change angles quickly. There are times he appeared to overplay routine looks and got caught lunging or sliding past the play. - Rebound Control and Perimeter Efficiency
Needs to better limit second-chance and perimeter rebound opportunities. His mechanics are sound, but he can become disorganized when shots come through traffic or after puck movement around the perimeter. He allows too many scrambles after initial saves that could be controlled or swallowed.
Projection and Final Verdict
Draft Range: 3rd–6th Round
NHL Projection: No. 2 who can win games when called upon.
Harenstam has all the physical and mental traits to be a goaltender worth investing in. While his size and efficiency concerns will prevent him from being a top-ranked goaltender in this class, his athletic base, battle level, and technical foundation suggest NHL potential in the right system and given time to adjust to North American professional hockey.