2025 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #13 Victor Johansson

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking. Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine “prospect” eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club’s reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.

What a difference a year makes.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs first selected Swedish defenceman Victor Johansson in the 4th round of the 2024 NHL draft, the near-unanimous sentiment amongst draft experts was little more than “who in the world is that?”

Johansson was left completely unranked by NHL Central Scouting and wasn’t found on any list of top prospects, which left many Leafs fans worried about who their team selected 120th overall. A look into his prospect profile only worsened those concerns. What they found was a scrawny defenceman (listed at 6’1, and only 158lbs), who didn’t put up a ton of points, scoring only 8 points across 34 games while playing for Leksands IF in the Swedish U20 junior league.

To put it simply, fans and analysts everywhere were less than impressed with the pick. Even here at TLN, Johansson was left unranked on last year’s prospect rankings. But a new season provides new opportunities, and few players in Toronto’s system seized opportunity better than Johansson. 

Johansson’s offense exploded in the 24/25 season, putting up 39 points in 47 games in Sweden’s U20 junior league. This 0.82 point per game pace more than tripled his 0.24 point per game production from the year prior within the same league. On top of the points, Johansson seemed to add some edge to his game, putting up 113 penalty minutes compared to only 20 in the previous season. While he still has a long way to go before being NHL-sized, Johansson was also able to put on some weight over the past year, now listed at 165lbs. 

The increase in size, scoring, and grit earned Johansson plenty of attention from both his club and international scouts. He earned a brief call up to Leskands’ senior team in the Swedish Hockey League where he played five games. Despite putting up 0 points during his stint in the SHL, and logging as little as 2 minutes of ice time during some of the games, it’s important to recognize how rare it is for young players to get an opportunity in Sweden’s senior league. Johansson was only 18 years old during his initial call-up, which despite the minimal ice time, is a major green flag for how highly Leskands management regards him as a player.

Johansson has also gained attention from Sweden’s international management as they look towards putting together a roster for this year’s world juniors. Johansson has been playing for Sweden at the World Juniors Summer Showcase, where he’s put up 3 points in 5 games, including a goal against Canada (Hockey Canada’s website incorrectly has him listed as Victor Johnsson. Johansson’s play has impressed his teams, scouts, analysts, and most importantly, himself. In a recent interview spoke of being happy with his performance this summer and his ambitious goal of being the best defenceman in the whole world.

“I want to be the best d-man in the whole world,” Johansson said during an interview with FloHockey at the World Junior Summer Showcase. “Just have that mentality to be the best and just go out there and play hockey.”

During the same interview Johansson gave some insight to his dialogue with the Toronto Maple Leafs before and after the draft, stating that Toronto saw him as more of a defensive defenceman during the draft and the team was shocked with his offensive explosion over this past year.

Despite only being 19 years old, it seems that Johansson has already secured his spot with Leskands senior team for this upcoming SHL season, as he’s currently one of eight defenceman listed on the team’s roster.

Those who have watched him play, including our very own prospect-guru Steven Ellis, have said that confidence has been the big differentiator for Johansson over the past year. He’s playing with an added edge and meanness to his game, while also taking more risks with the puck on the offensive side, opening up scoring opportunities for his teammates both at even strength and on the powerplay. On the defensive side, he’s shown excellent positioning, being able to stick to his assignment and never afraid to get physical.

The biggest knock on his game thus far has been his reaction time with both receiving passes and making decisions with the puck. Ideally, those delayed responses leave his game as he gains experience and more confidence, where his instincts and rising hockey IQ will assist in making quick decisions rather than taking that extra half-second to make a decision, a half-second that can be exploited in U20 hockey, but more experienced veterans will pounce on at higher levels.

The 2025/2026 season will be a fascinating one for Victor Johansson, as we wait to find out whether his meteoric rise continues or if the jump up to the SHL will temper expectations for the Swedish prospect. While Johansson is still at least a few years away from any potential NHL gametime, his status as a prospect to watch has done nothing but improve since the Leafs selected him as a then completely unknown. Johansson can now be considered one of Toronto’s more intriguing prospects, falling into the category of high-ceiling and low floor. He may never make the NHL, or his ambitions to become the best d-man in the world may become closer to reality than anyone would have ever expected back during the 2024 draft.