Filip Ekberg (LW, L, 5’10”, 172, Ottawa 67s, 04/14/2007)
Filip Ekberg is a skilled, intelligent offensive minded forward who made a seamless transition to North American hockey this season with the Ottawa 67’s. Though undersized, he plays with vision, patience, and elite puck handling ability, consistently making plays in tight areas and in motion. Ekberg served as a primary offensive driver for Sweden at the U18 World Championships and held a top-six role with Ottawa, playing in all offensive situations. He offers top-end offensive tools but will require consistency in effort and engagement away from the puck to be a complete player at the NHL level.
Statistical Profile (2024–25):
GP G A P PIM +/-
53 16 29 45 8 +5
Notable International Play (2024–25):
U18 Worlds: 7 GP, 10 G, 8 A, 18 P, +6
Hlinka-Gretzky Cup: 3 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 P
WJAC: 5 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 P
Sweden U18 (cumulative): 19 GP, 15 G, 12 A, 27 P
OHL Single Game Averages:
TOI: 15:34
PPT / SHT: 3:36 / 0:01
PIA / PID: 8:35 / 5:08
Shots on Goal: 1.86
Scoring Chances: 1.49 (23% conversion)
Puck Battles (C / C%): 11 / 47%
Pass Completion: 87%
Giveaways / Takeaways: 4.2 / 3.0
Reasons to Draft:
High-End Offensive Skill Set: Ekberg creates with pace and precision. His 87% pass success rate and 1.09 pre-shot passes per game show a player who facilitates offense with consistency. His puck handling, spatial manipulation, and deception allow him to create space for teammates even in tight quarters.
Elite International Production: Led the U18 World Championships in scoring (18 points in 7 games) while playing a top-line role. His performance demonstrated not only high-end skill but also clutch scoring ability against top international peers.
Hockey IQ and Vision: Plays one step ahead, manipulating defenders with fakes and awareness. He finds pockets of ice and recognizes defensive breakdowns with regularity. His ability to delay and make the right play under pressure is evident on zone entries and offensive-zone sequences.
Smart Offensive Zone Habits: Circles to maintain possession, draws defenders to open lanes for teammates, and utilizes the full width of the ice. His 1.49 scoring chances per game and 23% conversion rate reflect quality over quantity in his attack.
Growing Physical Confidence: While not a physical player, he showed willingness to initiate contact in key moments (e.g., at the Hlinka) and made defensive reads to intercept pucks and trigger counterattacks. He doesn’t shy from the play and can take hits to make plays.
Reasons for Concern:
Compete Level Inconsistency: His forecheck is often passive, and he is frequently the last player back in defensive transition. There’s a visible lack of urgency at times away from the puck, especially when his team doesn’t have possession.
Undersized for Pro Projection: At 5’10” and 170 lbs, Ekberg will need to add strength to handle heavier matchups and maintain puck control under pressure at the next level. He wins puck battles through angles and timing, but his 47% win rate will need to improve.
Defensive Engagement: His D-zone coverage is largely reactive. He puck-watches at times and struggles with body positioning and defensive reads in his own zone. At even strength, he can drift or cheat early toward offense, creating vulnerabilities that will be exploited at higher levels.
Limited Special Teams Utility (at present): While an effective power play playmaker, he contributes almost nothing short-handed and will need to elevate his two-way game to stay on the ice late in games.
Projection:
Ekberg projects as a top-nine NHL winger with power play potential. If he addresses the effort and awareness concerns away from the puck and continues to produce at even strength, he could become a playmaking top-six forward. NHL teams looking for high-skill, pace-and-poise offensive creators should be intrigued by his development arc.
Draft Recommendation:
2nd Round Pick
Ekberg’s combination of offensive IQ, puck skill, and proven international production makes him a worthy selection in the top 50 picks. Teams should be prepared to invest time and structure into developing his off-puck habits and physical strength, but his offensive instincts and hockey sense give him a path to NHL value.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images