Ducks select Eric Nilson No. 45 overall in 2025 NHL Draft

The Anaheim Ducks have selected center Eric Nilson with the 45th overall selection of the 2025 NHL Draft at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Nilson was projected to be selected 40th overall on average across all of the main draft rankings, going as high as 18th and as low as 65th. He was also ranked seventh among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis projected the Calgary, Alberta-born, yet Swedish center to go 37th.

Ellis had this to say about Nilson in his most recent draft rankings:

“Nilson has been a fringe first-rounder for most of the year for me, and while he fell here, I still really like him. I don’t think he has high-end skill and he’s definitely not a play-driver. But he’s a great passer who can also wire home shots, too. He was productive in the Swedish U-20 league and has some pro experience with Djurgardens’ Allsvenskan team. I can see Nilson becoming an effective bottom-six forward because he’s so committed to winning every battle while still maintaining his position in his own zone.”

Nilson spent his 2025-26 season with the Djurgardens IF, split between the U-18 Region, U-18 Nationell, U-20 Nationell, and top squads.

Most of Nilson’s season was spent with the U-20 Nationell team, where he played 37 games with 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points. He also six goals and seven assists for 13 points in nine playoff games.

When Nilson was with the U-18 level teams, he managed to get two goals and two assists for four points in two games with the Region team, and three goals and four assists for seven points in six games with the Nationell team. He also had five goals and 12 assists for 17 points in eight playoff games with the Nationell team.

Nilson only briefly dipped his toes with Djurgardens IF in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish league, playing four games with the team where he had just one assist.

Nilson also played for Team Sweden for the 2025 IIHF World U-18 Championship, where he had two goals and three assists for five points in seven games. Sweden went on to win their seventh silver medal in the tournament.

Nilson has committed to Michigan State University for the 2025-26 season.