Maple Leafs prospect checkpoint: How has Victor Johansson fared through 5 months of 2025-26?

The Toronto Maple Leafs went into the 2024 National Hockey League Entry Draft with only two selections in the first four rounds, raising the need to hit on both of these picks. The Maple Leafs walked away with two defencemen, taking Ben Danford with the 31st pick, and then Victor Johansson at 120th overall. 

Johansson was selected while playing for Leksands IF of the Swedish Junior Hockey League during the 2023-24 season. In 34 games during his draft year, Johansson posted two goals and six assists, while recording a plus-minus rating of plus-six. Johansson returned to Leksands IF Jr. for the 2024-25 season, appearing in 47 games, totalling seven goals, 32 assists and 39 points. Johansson led the team in assists and was the leader among all defencemen in points. Johansson wrapped up the season by appearing in five games with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League, failing to record a point.  

The 19-year-old has spent the 2025-26 season playing across three leagues in Sweden. Johansson played two games with Leksands IF Jr., recording two goals in eight games with Leksands IF in the SHL, posting three assists and skating in 15 games with Oskarshamn IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan League, which is equivalent to the SHL’s American Hockey League. In 15 games, Johansson has posted one goal, four assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-four. 

Johansson was selected to be a member of the Swedish team for the 2026 World Junior tournament, which took place in Minnesota. The defenceman appeared in five games with the champion Swedish team, recording a minus-one rating. Johansson was scratched during two games in the preliminary round but returned to play through all three games during the elimination rounds. Johansson received limited ice time, struggling to reach the same level that the young defender showed at the World Junior Summer Showcase. According to Daily Faceoff and The Leafs Nation prospect expert Steven Ellis, the level of play left some room for concern. 

On one hand, Johansson was excellent at the World Junior Summer Showcase. On the other hand, that was half a year ago. He didn’t play much in this tournament, and I felt like he was actually overwhelmed in his own zone throughout the pre-tournament and round-robin.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, Johansson will need to continue adding weight and strength as he evolves his game to play at the professional level. Johansson feels like a safe bet to remain in Sweden for a couple of years before the Maple Leafs decide the next steps in Johansson’s career. 

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