2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Victor Eklund

Let’s take a look at what makes the 5’11” forward look like a top-10 pick in the draft!

Diving Deeper:

Skating

One of the most impressive parts of Victor Eklund’s game is his skating. Eklund is a smooth and effective skater who is strong on his skates. Not only is his skating above average, but he also has a high motor. Eklund has shown to be a hard-working forward, and that should translate to the NHL.

Puck Possession

Eklund shows a lot of offensive skill and isn’t afraid to use his body to battle for possession either. He battles hard along the boards, and when he has the puck on his stick, he makes smart decisions under pressure to ensure he keeps the puck. What Eklund lacks in size, he doesn’t lack in tenacity, as his play both on and off the puck makes him a compelling prospect.

“While he’s an offensively driven player, he never shies away from battling for possession, whether with his stick or body. This work rate makes him stand out in two key offensive metrics: his ability to recover and extend possession in the offensive zone.””

Smaht Scouting – March 23rd

Scoring

While the numbers may not look all that impressive, Eklund is playing in a men’s league that typically doesn’t have very high scorers. Eklund is an offense creator, and while he has slightly more goal-scoring skill than playmaking skill, he is above average in both areas. Eklund makes great decisions in tight, under pressure which either result in him converting on offense or someone else capitalizing on a play he’s made.

Comparables:

Jesper Bratt: Eklund and Bratt share a lot of similarities, but most of which is their ability to smoothly create offense. While they both may be undersized, they don’t let that keep them from creating offense, using their skating to their advantage. Both Bratt and Eklund are highly competitive and think the game at a fast pace.

Travis Konecny: Victor’s brother, William, actually compares Victor to Travis Konecny, and the comparison checks out. Both players are very high-intensity players who add some physicality to their game. While they aren’t enforcers by any means, both players have a solid blend of offensive skill, tenacity, and work ethic.

Jordan Eberle: Eklund and Eberle share more similarities than just the first letter of their last name. Both Eklund and Eberle are smooth skaters who create offense for both themselves and their teammates. They also both have skilled hands, able to make plays in tight spaces.

Prospect Potential:

Looking at the comparables above, there is a wide range in potential for Victor Eklund, depending on how he develops. Eklund is most likely to be a middle-six forward, but does have the potential to become a top-six performer who is relied on not only for even-strength but special teams as well.

Best Potential Fits:

Boston Bruins: The Boston Bruins are not the Bruins of the past that you could count on making the playoffs each year, and fell back this past season, which saw the team shipping out Carlo, Coyle, and Marchand and bringing in two younger centres in Minten and Mittlestadt. The Bruins also have some forward prospects coming down the pipeline, but adding an offensive workhorse like Eklund could be a great fit, depending on who is still on the board.

Buffalo Sabres: At Inside the Rink’s projected rankings of 9th overall, the Buffalo Sabres are slated to make a selection. Eklund could be a great fit with the Sabres, as the team looks to move towards being a perennial contender after many years of failure and disappointment. With Tage Thompson, Josh Norris, and Ryan McLeod down the middle, the Sabres could look to add another winger or defender with this selection, and if they opt for a forward, Eklund would be a great fit. As a hard-working winger, he could provide depth and versatility to the Sabres’ future core.

Stats via Elite Prospects