[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 18):

LHC Mikkel Eriksen (5'11",185lbs)
Farjestad (J20): 33gp/ 16g/ 20a/ 36pts, +4, 8 PIM

One of the best things about C Mikkel Eriksen (who is actually Norwegian) is that he's the youngest player in the 2025 draft-class, with a Sept.13th, 2007 birthday. The nephew of Espen Knutsen (remember him?) has been impressive when representing his home country internationally, posting 4 goals and 5 points in the 2024 U-18 Tournament for Norway, and 4 points in 5 games in the 2025 WJC-D1A. He is ranked by Central Scouting as the # 94 EU Skater. Eriksen is very much a natural C with a sound 200-ft game, and is fairly balanced when it comes to offense. He is very middle-driven, and reads the ice well, with the ability to drive play. He owns solid instincts, as well as sharply-honed passing skills, with the vision to make high-value plays sending crisp, accurate feeds through traffic- often cross-ice, or cross-crease. He is also a good finisher who can score pretty goals, or cash in on garbage goals, going to the net for rebounds and loose pucks. Eriksen plays well around the crease, both in passing and shooting, and drives inside for chances. He employs a rather workmanlike approach, and isn't too flashy.

Eriksen has a fairly deep arsenal of shots to choose from, all with a quick and deceptive release, and moves intelligently off-puck- floating around in the slot, dipping in-and-out of high-danger to open space, and present his stick as a passing option. Skating-wise, he is well above average in the speed department with superb elusiveness on the strength of smooth edges, that provide him with shiftiness and escapability. With his quick acceleration and his balance, he can often blow by defenders, and separate in open ice. He has a number of slick 1-on-1 moves and deception tactics that add to his evasiveness, but he is also uncommonly hard on the puck, and protects so well that he can maintain possession even under physical pressure. Eriksen isn't really overwhelmingly physical, but he doesn't shy away from contact- he finishes his checks, battles for pucks in the trenches, and wins position in front of the net. Several times a game it would seem, he levies reverse-hits along the boards to make a little room for himself. From what I've seen, he's fairly good on faceoffs, and he plays a tight defensive game by reading his opponents well, and exerting pristine positioning to proactively cover his man and take his stick. He removes the middle as an option with excellent use of his stick, and pressures attackers all over the zone. His off-puck game is one of his finest attributes, as he seems to always be in the right place, at the right time, while always open and playable. He makes movements with the goal of opening up space by drawing opponents, even when not in possession.

Eriksen holds tremendous value as a transitional player- he can carry through clean exit and controlled entry, and traverses the neutral zone with pace to push back defenders. He skates intelligent routes, uses manipulation by deception, and makes quick, smart passes. Eriksen reminds me of some recent players from the J20 who were 2nd-rounders in 2023, in Felix Unger-Sorum, Felix Nilsson, and Oscar Fisker-Molgaard, but these players were a bit more dynamic than Eriksen, and perhaps more skilled. They also spent some time in higher leagues, and Eriksen has yet to be rewarded with a call-up. Eriksen needs to add an extra gear to his skating, and has to add strength, but I think he could possibly be a middle-six center (perhaps more likely a winger) in the NHL at some point. Look for him in the 3rd-round.