Victor Eklund
2024-25 Team: Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Date of Birth: Oct. 3, 2006
Place of Birth: Stockholm, SWE
Height: 5-foot-11, Weight: 161 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Left Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2025 first-year eligible
Rankings
Victor Eklund, a small but high-energy winger with dynamic potential, is likely to be one of the first names off the draft board in June. He’s shown a knack for goal-scoring at a professional level this season, both from long-range and the net-front. He’s one of the best this class has to offer.
Related: THW’s 2025 NHL Draft Guide
Eklund finished the 2024-25 regular season with 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points in 42 contests. For someone his age, that’s a lot. He joins five other draft-year players in league history with a point-per-game rate of 0.60 or better across at least 20 games. They are the following: Elias Pettersson, teammate Anton Frondell, William Nylander, Alex Wennberg, and David Pastrňák.
He shot at a 17.1% clip this season, and that’s in an environment where the average shooting percentage is about 10%. This can be interpreted as “his scoring output is unsustainable”, but he seems to be a genuinely efficient scorer. Eklund is very effective in the net-front for his size, and showed promise from the bumper spot on Djurgårdens IF’s power play. That’s not for no reason. He locates scoring areas and presents himself as a target for his teammates to hit.
Victor Eklund, Team Sweden (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
While Eklund’s shooting potential is exciting, that’s not where his strengths end. In particular, he has some of the best vision in the class. Not only does he see opportunities for scoring chances that most other players don’t, but he has the talent to make what he pictures a reality. In situations where one player might opt for a shot on a 2-on-2 rush, Eklund might instead delay to create a 4-on-3. During tame offensive zone possessions, he may draw a couple of puck-watching defenders to him and thread a perfect pass to a teammate. Hockey’s all about creating space, and that’s a strong suit of his.
Additionally, Eklund’s competitiveness is admirable. Again, he may be a smaller player, but he’ll surprise you with his relentlessness. He wins quite a few puck battles, making him an excellent support player for his linemates. He’s not afraid to challenge players bigger than him if it means gaining possession. On and off the puck, Eklund is a nightmare for the opposition.
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Eklund has an elite offensive toolkit that can be a game-changer for whoever drafts him. His transition game is strong, and he’s a competent two-way player. While not someone who is going to grind for pucks in the defensive zone, Eklund will contribute on the back check if needed.
Other THW Draft Profiles
Victor Eklund – NHL Draft Projection
It’s hard to put an exact number on Eklund here, but he’s all but a sure-fire top 10 selection, possibly just outside the top five. His brother, William, was taken seventh overall in 2021, so that’s more or less what to expect here. At some point, the upside is too great to pass on.
Quotables
“Eklund’s pace of play is advanced for his age as he moves quickly and very decisive. He can absolutely rip a puck and score from short and medium ranges in addition to being a skilled playmaker. Like his brother, William, Victor is undersized, but he’s just as dynamic as the elder Eklund, maybe even more.” – Jordan Harris, Dobber Prospects
“Victor is an excellent skater. He has good speed, but his edge work is what separates his skating ability and how elusive he is in tight. He’s a very skilled forward who makes creative plays and can do so in the tough areas.” – Corey Pronman, The Athletic (from ‘NHL Draft 2025 top prospects: Matthew Schaefer leads Corey Pronman’s midseason ranking,’ The Athletic – January 28, 2025)
“He’s so well aware of open ice, and does great work quietly finding it. Despite being a little light, he will engage and often win battles using elusiveness and a quick stick.” – Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet
Strengths
Vision and anticipation
Shot power and accuracy
Competitiveness
Skating
Play on the rush
Under Construction – Improvements to Make
Size
Offensive consistency
NHL Potential
Eklund doesn’t seem to be the potential face of a franchise, but he can be the ultimate complementary player to someone who is. He has a point-per-game upside as a standalone, but that could be even greater if he goes to a team with an established star. As someone with excellent vision and shooting ability, playing with talent should only help him. That’s been proven when Eklund has shared the ice with Frondell, another top prospect from the 2025 class.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk – 2/5, Reward – 4.5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 8.5/10, Defense – 6/10
Awards/Achievements
2021-22 J18 SM Gold Medal
2021-22 TV-Pucken Playoffs Most Penalized Player (8)
2021-22 TV-Pucken Silver Medal
2021-22 U16 SM Gold Medal
2022-23 J18 SM Silver Medal
2023-24 HockeyAllsvenskan Silver Medal
2023-24 U18 WJC Bronze Medal
2024-25 HockeyAllsvenskan Most Goals by a Junior (19)
2024-25 HockeyAllsvenskan Most Points by a Junior (31)
Interviews/Links
Victor Eklund Stats
Videos
Victor Eklund (2025) 🤝 Anton Frondell (2025) pic.twitter.com/wHgsoLAyxJ
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) January 27, 2025
Victor Eklund tips home the Willander shot to make it 1-0 Sweden!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/zKKb9NM8GR
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 27, 2024