This year’s NHL draft is full of great talent, with the likes of Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith out of North America and Matvei Michkov out of Russia. This year’s crop of Scandinavian prospects is just as impressive, with names like Leo Carlsson and Axel Sandin-Pellika highlighting the Nordic area. This year, however, may not be as top-heavy as it has been in previous years. With only three prospects securely cemented in the top 32 of the draft, Scandinavia could see its lowest number in the first round since 2020, where only 3 players were drafted out of Scandinavia.
Nonetheless, Scandinavia has several talented prospects that will be drafted in this year’s draft. I don’t expect all these prospects in this ranking to be drafted; however, I believe most will be selected.
This is part 1 of 2 of my top 32 prospects from Scandinavia, which consist of the first 16 players in my rankings. I have posted the full list of 32 players from this article on my Twitter: @alfonso7acevedo & Instagram: alfonso.acevedo18.
Now, without further ado, let us begin with the first player on my list….
1. Leo Carlsson (C) | Örebro HK (SHL) | CSE:1
No surprise here at 1. Leo Carlsson has been the lead Scandinavian prospect from the jump this year, and this position has not changed. After spending his first full season in the SHL, Carlsson led all U20 players with 25 points in 44 games while also playing at the World Juniors and World Championship for Sweden.
Although Carlsson’s overall skating does need improving, I wouldn’t say he is a horrible skater. He has a good stride and good edges, but his acceleration will need work. However, I think, with his passing ability, it shouldn’t be too big of a concern as it isn’t hindering his play. Carlsson is a fantastic passer; he makes a great lead pass which he gets onto his teammates’ stick while in full flight. Defensively his positioning is good, and he has a good defensive stick. I would like to see him be stronger on his stick and get more involved along the boards, which I feel he sometimes avoids.
Throughout my viewings of Carlsson this season, I have continuously gotten the feeling that parts of his game remind me of Leon Draisaitl. Both have very similar motions in their one-timers and share similarities in how they steal the puck from opposing players. I’ve also noticed some similarities in their skating. It’s also interesting to note that Draisaitl had to overcome some skating issues after he was drafted, which Carlsson will also have to overcome. Now I am not saying Carlsson is the next Draisaitl; I am simply pointing out that there are similarities in their games.
Carlsson is an excellent two-way center who could be a 60+ assist man if he reaches his potential while contributing in the range of 20 goals. Carlsson is still a good bet in the top 5, and I would consider him alongside Adam Fantilli in the 2 slot.
2. Axel Sandin-Pellikka (RHD) | Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:7
Axel Sandin-Pellikka has been rising in my rankings since the beginning of the season. Although he split the year between the J20 Natonell and the SHL, Sandin-Pellikka’s play throughout the year, which includes international play, impressed me quite a bit. He played 22 games in the SHL, managing 5 points while being a point-per-game player at the J20 level with 36 points in 31 games.
Sandin-Pellikka is an excellent skater with a good skating base and great edges. He skates the puck up ice exceptionally well, with plenty of confidence. I also like how strong he is on his skates. Sandin-Pellikka has a good passing ability and makes a good first pass. He handles the puck extremely well and looks poised with the puck on his stick, with no clear signs of panic in his play. Defensively Sandin-Pellikka has good gap control and uses his stick well defensively. He is willing to be physical, and I love his composure when holding the blueline. Overall, however, his defensive game could still be improved.
Sandin-Pellikka is a two-way defenseman who eats a lot of minutes, playing 20+ at the J20 level and moves the puck up ice extremely well. I see him being an excellent top-4 mobile defenseman capable of joining the rush and creating offence. I am comfortable saying that a team will take him in the top 10 in this year’s draft.
3. Dalibor Dvorský (C/RW) | AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan) | CSE:3
Dalibor Dvorský’s overall draft stock has been falling quite a bit in the last few months, mainly due to concerns regarding his play being underwhelming at the pro level this year. In 38 Allsvenskan games, Dvorský managed to post 14 points, putting him 11th in team scoring for AIK this season.
Dvorský is a good skater who possesses good edges and has a good stride. However, he is not the fastest guy on the ice. His acceleration and overall top-speed will need to be worked on, as he isn’t able to keep up with the current pace of play in the Allsvenskan when it gets to a run-and-gun type of game. Dvorský possesses a good set of hands with a good shot and good passing ability. He also protects the puck well, although there are times when I would like to see him be harder to take the puck off. Dvorský is also reliable defensively; thanks to his positioning and support, he provides his defensemen down low.
Although Dvorský can play center, and I would love to see him play that position due to his defensive reliability, I believe he is more suited for the wing. Overall, I still feel Dvorský is worth a top 20 pick in this year’s draft as he does possess the potential to be a top-6 forward or a good 2C.
4. Anton Wahlberg (C) | Malmö Redhawks J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:30
Anton Wahlberg is a prospect whose draft stock has continued to rise throughout the season and has accumulated in him landing 4th on my list. Wahlberg split the season between the J20 Nationell, where he played 32 games and posted 27 points, and the SHL, where he spent the final portion of the season amassing 4 points in 17 appearances.
In those 17 SHL games, Wahlberg really impressed me with his play this year. He skates exceptionally well, with good edges and a good skating base. Wahlberg is strong on his skates which makes him hard to knock off the puck; however, there are times that I wish he would be stronger on his puck. He is still learning how to use his size to his advantage, but once he does, he will make it very difficult for opponents to strip him of the puck. I also like how he gets in on the forecheck; I would like to see him do it more often. Wahlberg also possesses a good set of hands, which, coupled with his frame, makes him dangerous.
Wahlberg looked very comfortable playing against men and did not look out of place. It would not surprise me if a team takes him in the first round; however, I expect him to return to Sweden to play against men for an entire season. Wahlberg has the potential to be a good 2C at the next level, and as he continues to grow into his frame will only get better.
5. Jesse Nurmi (LW) | KooKoo U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:28
Jesse Nurmi was a high riser early in the year for me but has since dropped into my second-round range heading into the draft. He’s been an exciting prospect to watch over the past year scoring 50 points in 41 games at the U20 level while also having played 9 games in the Liiga.
Nurmi is a good skater who possesses good edges. One aspect of his game I like is his speed which he builds up well using his crossovers. He also accelerates well, has good top-speed and has good separation speed. He uses that speed well to get in on the forecheck and carry the puck up ice which he does with a lot of confidence. Nurmi could be even more dangerous on the forecheck if he can develop a quicker first step. His overall shot is okay, but I think he will need to add some more zip to it for it to be dangerous.
Nurmi has the speed needed in today’s NHL and just needs to round out his overall game. If given the time to develop, I think he has the capability to be a good middle-6 forward who can get in on the forecheck and create havoc.
6. Noah Dower Nilsson (C) | Frölunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:17
Noah Dower Nilsson finished the J20 season sitting within the top 10 in both goals and points, with 26 goals and 54 points. He is a player who, although I haven’t fallen in love with, I can see that he has a set of skills that sets him apart from some of the other players on this list.
Dower Nilsson’s skating ability is good, I like his edge work, and he accelerates well. He uses his skating well when he carries the puck up ice which he does with a good level of confidence. He has a good passing ability both on his forehand and backhand, which I think is a little underrated. Dower Nilsson also possesses a good shot, and his one-timer is decent, but I think it lacks some power which I believe can be attributed to the length of his stick. I feel it’s too long and hinders the amount of energy he can create. His defensive play is decent, and he is willing to backcheck; however, I would like to see him be more consistent.
I see Dower Nilsson as a potential top-6 scoring forward who could become a consistent 30-goal-scorer in the future. Although he is listed as a center, with his offensive abilities, I think he would be better suited to play on the wing.
7. Alex Čiernik (LW/RW) | Södertälje SK J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:21
Alex Čiernik has been a consistent player this year and has shown that in his play. The German-born Slovak had an impressive season, playing in both the HockeyAllsvenskan, for two different teams, and the J20 Nationell. Čiernik posted a total of 12 points in 25 games in the Allsvenskan this season, which he split between Södertälje SK (15 games-6 points) and Västerviks IK on loan (10 games-6 points).
Čiernik is a player who skates well with good edge work and a good stride. He has good acceleration and gets to his top-speed fairly quickly. He always seems to be moving, and I love how he gets into open spaces where he makes himself available for a pass. I also love his two-way game, where he’ll use his ability to get open in his own end, which, combined with his positioning, helps him be a reliable force on the defensive side of the puck. Although he isn’t dominating the J20 level by any means, he plays at a level that I would say is very good for the J20 level.
Čiernik has been a mainstay in my second round throughout the season, sitting at 36 in both my December and February rankings, and I expect he will remain in that position come my final rankings. Overall, I see him being a good two-way middle-6 forward who can contribute offensively.
8. Tom Willander (RHD) | Rögle BK J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:12
Tom Willander has been one of the big risers in the last few months on people’s lists and has slowly climbed into the conversations as one of the top defensemen in this year’s draft. In 36 J20 Nationell games this year for Rögle BK, he posted 25 points and represented Sweden at the U-18 World Championships in April.
The first thing you will notice about Willander is his fantastic skating ability. His skating ability, both forward and backwards, is excellent, and he uses his skating to his advantage. He skates the puck up ice very well and is willing to jump into the play to join the rush. Willander is also a good passer, making a good first pass which is hard and on the tape more often than not. There are still some things I’d like to see him clean up, though, such as his overall defensive play and his decision-making when pinching, as he will sometimes get caught. I would also like to see him have a more active stick in his own end; however, his defensive stick is good.
Willander has been gaining steam as we approach draft night; however, in my opinion, he is more likely an early 2nd round pick. It would not, however, be crazy to say that a team should take him in the late 1st. I see Willander as a top-4 defenseman who could be a good two-way defenseman once he cleans up his defensive play a little more.
9. Zeb Forsfjäll (C) | Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:34
Zeb Forsfjäll was a pleasant surprise to watch this year. Although there are aspects to his game that still need improvement, he’s impressed me enough to get into the 9 slot on these rankings. In the 34 games he played for Skellefteå AIK J20 this season, in which he was the captain, Forsfjäll scored 22 points, tying him for 5th in team scoring.
Forsfjäll is a great skater with good edges and has both a good stride and skating base. He accelerates and builds up speed well with his crossovers. He has a great motor, and I love how he is always moving. Forsfjäll possesses a nice set of hands and is also agile. Overall, Forsfjäll’s defensive play is solid, and I would say he is reliable in his own end. He is willing to backcheck and does a good job supporting his defensemen in the defensive zone. His defensive positioning is also good. Forsfjäll is a good faceoff man, but he needs to add more strength to his frame, which will help him tie up his man.
Forsfjäll is a prospect that will need some development before he is NHL-ready, but I see him as a middle-6 forward who can do a bit of everything. His skating and defensive play are a big part of his game, and I think if a team is looking for a good two-way centerman, he is a player that they should look at.
10. Otto Stenberg (C/W) | Frölunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:6
Despite his extraordinary play for Sweden at the U18 Worlds and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Otto Stenberg has been falling in most rankings over the past few months. This has been due to his lack of consistent play with his club team this year; hence him being 10th on this list. Stenberg split the year between the J20 Nationell and SHL, scoring 26 points in 29 J20 games and 3 points in 23 SHL games.
Stenberg is a good skater with good edges and a good stride. I am, however, concerned about his acceleration. He has average top-speed, but I think he will still need to improve his acceleration in order to get up the ice quicker. Defensively, Stenberg will need to improve his overall play, but his positioning is fine. I would also like to see him get into open ice more often, making himself an option on the breakout. In his SHL games, it is apparent that Stenberg still needs to get stronger. Although he shows flashes of good play at the SHL level, his lack of consistency can sometimes be frustrating to watch.
I don’t see Stenberg as a center at the next level, as I think his play is more suited towards the wing. I believe that he has the potential to be a good two-way forward who contributes offensively, but he will need to become more consistent with his play. Although his overall play this year has not been up to what some expected of him, I see him going in the second round.
11. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (C) | HV71 (SHL) | CSE:18
The top Danish prospect in this year’s draft, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, has risen in most public rankings this season and has slowly found his way into some first rounds. Fisker Mølgaard was a point-per-game player at the J20 level scoring 23 points in 21 games. However, he played the bulk of this year in the SHL, scoring 7 points in his 41 appearances.
Fisker Mølgaard is a good skater. He has good edges with good top-speed and a good skating base. He also accelerates well and has a good set of hands. Defensively I would characterize Fisker Mølgaard’s defensive play as good. He backchecks well and does well to support his defensemen. I would, however, like to see him come further down into his own end during the breakout and make himself available for a potential breakout pass. I think Fisker Mølgaard’s overall play is good but lacks consistency. There are times when his backcheck won’t be as strong, or he will just throw the puck away without any pressure, causing a turnover.
Overall, I think Fisker Mølgaard has the potential to be a good two-way third-line center. However, if he fixes his consistency issue, I could see him becoming a second-line center who is capable of contributing offensively. Although I don’t see him going in the first round, I do think he’s a good bet to go in the mid-second round.
12. Arvid Bergström (LHD) | Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:54
During my last few viewings of Arvid Bergström, he really impressed me. He’s impressed me enough that I believe that he could be the third-best Scandinavian defenseman in this year’s draft. Bergström scored 23 points in the 41 games he played in the J20 Nationell for Djurgårdens IF.
Bergström is an excellent forward and backward skater with good edges and agility. His top-speed is good, and he is willing to join the rush when he sees an opportunity. His passing ability is good, and he makes a good first pass. He can also get the puck out of his own end with one pass. One thing that stood out for me in my viewings is how he moves the puck up ice quickly and with purpose. One aspect I think he could stand to improve on is his shooting power. Bergström’s defensive game is good. He protects the front of the net well, but I would like to see him improve his 1 on 1 defending on the rush.
Bergström is a very interesting defenseman, he skates exceptionally well, and I think he could be a productive top-6 defenseman. With an improved defensive game, I think he will be a serviceable top-4 defenseman who can contribute offensively 20 or so points a year.
13. Theo Lindstein (LHD) | Brynäs IF (SHL) | CSE:14
Theo Lindstein has had a fairly rough year. He was a consensus first-rounder heading into the season; however, over the last 10 months, he has fallen quite a bit in most public rankings, including my own. Outside of the 14 games he played in the J20 Nationell, Lindstein played most of the season in the SHL, 32 games, where he scored 2 points for Brynäs IF.
Lindstein is a good skater, both forward and backwards. He has good edges and has decent top-speed. Lindstein can carry the puck up ice but rarely does it, and I would like to see him do it more often. Lindstein’s defensive play is good. He is responsible with the puck and makes a good first pass that he uses to get the puck out of his own end. There are times, however, when he will just throw the puck into nothingness, and he will need to clean that up. Lindstein has a good shot which he gets through on net. He has good gap control but still needs to get stronger, which was evident during the games he played against men.
With some more development, Lindstein could reach his potential, but it will take some time. Lindstein is a good overall defenseman who I see as a solid top-4 two-way defenseman. However, I don’t see him as a high-point producer.
14. Felix Nilsson (C/W) | Rögle BK J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:24
In my most recent viewing of Felix Nilsson, he impressed me with his play and has slowly been climbing my rankings over the past few months. Nilsson was the leading scorer for Rögle BK J20 this season, posting 41 points in 36 games. He also played 18 games in the SHL but did not register a point.
Nilsson is a good skater who has a good stride and decent top-speed. His overall acceleration needs work, as he doesn’t gather enough speed through his defensive and neutral zones. I like his forechecking ability and believe that he could be a good forechecking forward once he adds more speed to his skating. Nilsson protects the puck well, has a good set of hands and has a good passing ability. Nilsson’s overall game is good. He positions himself well and supports his defensemen well in the defensive zone. He is also willing to backcheck, but I would like him to be more consistent. I think his faceoff-taking ability is good, but it will need to be improved.
I see Nilsson as a good bottom-6 two-way center who is defensively responsible and could be a good penalty killer. Regardless of which team takes him, I believe they will be pleased with the player they picked.
15. Ian Scherzer (C) | Rögle BK J20 (J20 Nationell) | CSE:85
Of all the players on this list, Ian Scherzer is the one who surprised and impressed me the most. In the 30 games he played for Rögle BK’s J20 team, he managed to score 7 points.
Scherzer is a good skater who has a good stride and good edges. He accelerates well with good top-speed, and I love how he uses his crossovers to gain speed through the neutral and defensive zone. Scherzer always seems to be moving and can be very tenacious on the puck carrier and on the forecheck. He does well to get open for a pass on both the breakout and the offensive zone. Scherzer possesses a good shot which he gets off quickly and on net. Defensively, he is okay. He has a good active defensive stick and is willing to backcheck, but it needs to be more consistent. Scherzer will also need to get stronger, however, if he intends to play against men in the next few seasons.
Scherzer is a prospect who, given time, could be a solid middle-6 forward who gets in on the forecheck and forces turnovers. Although he is listed as a center, I see him more as a winger at the next level. He has committed to Miami University of Ohio for the 2024-25 NCAA season, which I think could be beneficial to his development.
16. Emil Järventie (F) | Ilves U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | CSE:33
Emil Järventie has had a long club season, totalling 57 games spanning the U20 SM-sarja, Liiga and Mestis leagues, plus 2 games in the U18 SM-sarja. There is a lot to like about Järventie’s game, but there are also aspects that need improvement.
Järventie’s skating is good. He has good edges and possesses a good skating base and stride. I found, however, that he isn’t generating enough power in his push-off. This also affects his acceleration which, although passable, still lacks that next level of separation speed to get away from chasing defenders. Järventie has a good shot which he gets off quickly, but his shot selection leaves much to be desired. I find that sometimes he will shoot the puck rather than hold on to it for a couple more seconds to find an open shot. Defensively, Järventie is okay; I would like to see it improve, however. He backchecks well but lacks consistency. He also positions himself well in his own end.
There are still a few things in Järeventie’s game that I would like to see worked on, but overall, I see a scoring winger at the next level who could move up and down the lineup. However, I think his highest potential is a middle-6 scoring winger.
I hope you enjoyed part 1 of my Top 32 Scandinavian 2023 Draft Rankings. With the first 16 players out of the way, I hope you continue by reading Part 2, which you can find in the link below.
[…] Part 1 […]