The work of TSLH Prospects continues in order to provide you with as much information as possible for the 2022 NHL Draft. In this article, I will introduce Liam Öhgren. To consult our other profiles and scouting reports, visit our TSLH Prospects section.

Recently, I shared with you the profile of Noah Östlund, a dynamic player skating for Djurgårdens in the J20 Nationell. In the following text, I present his teammate, Liam Öhgren.

The 6’1” left winger quickly won me over with his playmaking abilities. As part of a very well-constructed line within Djurgårdens, Öhgren was the puck distributor. However, one should not believe that the young Swede is merely a passer.

Quick execution

With his quick execution, Öhgren has the tools to beat all defenders in the J20 Nationell. While he is an excellent passer, Öhgren also relies on a strong shot that he can release at full speed. He also uses it effectively in the slot. When looking at his shot-location chart, it is clear that Öhgren likes to get close to the net to create scoring chances.

Red: buts
Black: tirs

Tangible progression

Öhgren’s progression was steady and upward throughout the year. At the Hlinka and early in the season in Sweden, the forward relied heavily on his excellent vision to distribute pucks to his teammates. As the season went on, he grew more confident in using his vision to attack the spaces left open by opponents.

This ability allowed him to adjust to the SHL. In the higher league, he also stood out for the quality of his 200-foot game. Unlike Östlund, Öhgren managed to carve out a role and have an impact in the role he was given with Djurgårdens in the SHL.

In his own zone, he maintains good positioning and cuts off passing lanes well with his stick. He also has the physicality to hold his own against adults along the boards. This explains his success within the limits of the role assigned to him in the SHL. Early in the season, Öhgren received decent ice time during his few call-ups to the SHL. As the season progressed, however, his usage became more limited. He nonetheless remained effective.

Generally, he is a player who stands out in transition plays and on zone entries. I like how he advances the play thanks to his vision. That said, the offensive aspect of his game was less present in the SHL, unlike Lekkerimäki. However, I appreciated his efficiency against higher-level competition. The offense was fully there at the end of the year once he returned to the J20 and J18 for the playoffs, also demonstrating steady progression throughout the season in terms of production. His performances at the U18 level were also impressive.

In summary

Liam Öhgren is a forward who impressed me as early as the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament for his vision. It was his playmaking abilities that stood out at first glance. Öhgren controls the puck well and recognizes passing opportunities with his teammates. However, make no mistake: Öhgren is not strictly a passer. He is a player with a good shot, which he uses effectively in the slot. I also appreciate how he likes to get close to the goaltender to create scoring chances. With the puck on zone entries, he makes quick decisions and is able to execute at a good pace. Öhgren’s progression was very satisfactory this season, both in his overall game and in his production. Moreover, his fairly complete style of play allows him to stand out in the SHL. Used as a support player, he did the job even if he lacked a bit of an extra gear in his skating to beat defenders wide. I see Öhgren in the NHL as a solid support player capable of providing offense to benefit his teammates.

2021–2022 Statistics

J20 Nationell (regular season): 33 goals / 25 assists (30 games)
SHL: 1 goal / 1 assist (25 games)
J20 Nationell (playoffs): 2 goals / 4 assists (6 games)
J18 Nationell (playoffs): 4 goals / 5 assists (4 games)
U18 World Championship: 3 goals / 6 assists (6 games)