[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 2):

RW Victor Eklund (5'11",161lbs)
Djurgardens (Allsvenskan): 32gp/ 11g/ 9a/ 20pts, +8, 37 PIM

If you missed Victor Eklund's performances in the 2024 U-18's (6 points in 7 games), last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (4 points in 4 games), December's World Junior A Challenge (7 points in 6 games), or the World Juniors (6 points in 7 games), then I hope this write-up will make those reading it grow to appreciate him as much as I do. Eklund is a lightning-fast, skilled offensive winger with an elite brain, who plays a gritty game, with a massive chip on his shoulder. His best quality might just be his sky-high compete level- he gives 110% every shift, and never gives up on a play- obviously, he was a Canadian in a past life. Despite his modest stature, he engages physically, throws hits, dives into the dirty areas, wins battles along the boards, gives second and third efforts, and is usually in the middle of every post-whistle scrum. He's an agitator, a pest, and a puck-hound, who plays with pace, high energy, and motor. As the brother of Sharks' first-rounder William Eklund, it's natural for some to compare their numbers, but that wouldn't be fair; they are different players, and William played in a higher league in his draft year (23 points in 40 SHL games). Victor plays in a men's league too- the second-tier Allsvenskan, and his numbers are also impressive.

Vic might be a better skater at this age than his older brother was- he's electric. His edges and agility are huge assets, with the ability to change pace and stop on a dime, giving him the capability to evade checks with his shiftiness. He thrives in open ice, with explosive acceleration, and can beat defenders wide. Eklund's wingspan isn't very long, but he still manages to handle the puck outside of his opponents' reach, and he can weave in and out of traffic while manipulating checkers with his arsenal of advanced deception tactics. He is always in motion, whether on-or-off the puck, and he's a pain in the butt on the forecheck as he never relents, and never quits on a play. Though his numbers suggest he's a goal-scorer, he's actually a fairly balanced attacker, and skates with his head on a swivel to exploit his high-end vision and creativity. Scouts always mention his passing skill, as he can connect with teammates through layers of traffic with passes that are often tape-to-tape, crisp and accurate, and right to the receiver's wheelhouse. He does need to shoot more though, as he owns a bullet of a wrister with a sneaky, deceptive release, and can fire off the catch. He has a nose for the net, and he's not afraid to attack the middle, or go straight to the crease off the rush. He gets his nose dirty, and battles in front of the net for position- taking abuse to have a chance at a rebound or a tip. Eklund's hands are as quick and smooth as his feet, giving him the ability to maneuver through traffic with dekes, dangles, feints, and shifts of weight.

As if the above weren't enough, Ek is also a solid defensive player, and brings his motor and intensity to the backcheck- he exerts good positioning, and hounds puck-carriers. He's a nightmare to handle in transition, as his speed and shiftiness, combined with his handling and puck-protection make him nearly impossible to contain. He possesses the innate ability to locate weak spots in coverage to move through, and he can spot passing seams that few others can see, in order to complete clean entries. Eklund plays bigger than his size, and wields elite-level compete, but he needs to get much bigger and stronger in order to be effective at the next level, and to be able to survive the rigors of the pro ranks. Look for him in the top-10 of this summer's draft.