Alfons Freij – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Despite having a fairly big frame, Freij doesn’t use his size to his advantage very often. He tends to shy away from the physical side of the game more often than not. Once he comes over to North America, that will certainly be one of the key aspects that most teams will look to improve. Adding some physicality would definitely help his defensive game as a whole, and he has the size to play that style of game. 

His awareness in the offensive zone is phenomenal, he seemingly is always in the right place at the right time, however, sometimes he does make mistakes that cost him in his own zone. Whether it be a risky play that leads to a turnover, or if he gets caught puck-chasing, he will occasionally make some judgment errors.

Alfons Freij – NHL Draft Projection

Freij is expected to be selected near the end of the first round or in the second round of the draft. He’s a player that the experts are heavily torn over, as there is no true consensus as to where he belongs. He has high potential to contribute offensively in the NHL, but his defensive ability may scare off some teams in the mid-first round. 

Quotables

“His skating, which will likely be a tremendous strength even in the NHL, is the foundation on which his game is built on. Freij is able to process the game at the speed he plays it – fast! This opens up worlds of time and space for his playmaking and shooting, as well as the effectiveness of his stickhandling and body fakes. His defending and physical presence may not be stellar yet, but he has good habits when it comes to retrievals and zone entry denials.” – McKeen’s Hockey

“Always with his head up, he also makes a fantastic first pass when it’s a better option than keeping it for himself. He’s a dual threat in the offensive zone as well, capable of creating passing lanes to distribute while also possessing a great shot. Freij is not afraid to take risks with the puck, and those risks don’t always pan out.” – Smaht Scouting

Strengths 

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

Freij’s defensive shortcomings will almost certainly be concerning to teams in the NHL, as he needs drastic improvement in that regard. His offensive ability can be game-changing though. His playmaking will create quite a few scoring opportunities which may make up for the concerns about his defense. Overall, it’s likely he will end up being a second or third-pairing defenseman who specializes in the power play. He does have the potential to become more than that if he’s able to become more reliable in his own end though. 

Risk- Reward Analysis

Risk- 2/5, Reward – 3/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense- 8/10, Defense – 6/10

Awards/ Achievements

Freij won a bronze medal as a member of Team Sweden at the 2024 U18 World Championship. 

Alfons Freij Stats

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