Theodor Hallquisth – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Hallquisth is a two-way defenseman who shows flashes at both ends of the ice. Starting defensively, he has some intriguing shutdown qualities that likely contributed to him getting a chance in the SHL. One of his strengths is taking space away from opponents and forcing them into making hasty decisions. He possesses excellent vision, which allows him to be more assertive on the defensive side—he knows where his teammates are. Hallquisth has some decent stick skills, throws around his body, and his retrieval game is a net positive.

Puck-moving from the defensive zone is another area where Hallquisth excels. His IQ comes into play here, as he regularly makes the best decisions when moving the puck, even if those decisions aren’t obvious. One of the top prospects of the 2025 NHL Draft, Anton Frondell, showed that when he and Hallquisth shared the ice at the 5 Nations tournament for under-18 players. The best puck-movers can create space for stars.

Focusing on offense, Hallquisth has great instincts but not necessarily an X-factor trait. His in-zone passing and shooting both seem to be above average, though, so don’t overlook his potential on the offensive front.

While there are still some things to work on, Hallquisth is a nice all-around package. He’s a solid skater, isn’t far from a pro-ready frame, is highly intelligent, can move the puck, and has an advanced defensive and physical game for his age. Though not one of the dynamic blueliners in the 2025 class, he’s certainly a good one.

Other THW Draft Profiles

Theodor Hallquisth – NHL Draft Projection

The earliest Hallquisth likely finds himself going is the third round, but he may be looking at the fourth or fifth. While there’s some interesting potential here, that may not show when it’s time for teams to lock in their selections.

Quotables

“Hallquisth is an incredibly mobile and effective defender, who approaches plays with an active stick, great skating stance, and physical edge. He wins puck battles in the corners and supports the rush well. Reliable on the puck, smart passing, good shot. But he’s struggled to hold his position throughout the year, and can get caught wandering.” – Gabriel Foley, Recruit Scouting

“He combines his size and strength with a strong hockey IQ and puck-moving ability, making him a highly impactful presence from the backend. While Hallquisth is not an offensive defenseman, his vision, positional awareness, and puck-distribution skills allow him to contribute meaningfully in transition and support his team’s attack.” – Neutral Zone

“He is an impressive skater with strong defensive habits. His backwards skating is smooth and he can have full control in everything in front of him. He moves well sideways also. When he retrieves pucks down low he pre-scans and can shift direction to fool opponent checkers. He moves the puck quite well and activates offensively when he has the chance.” – Jimmy Hamrin, Elite Prospects

Strengths

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

Though Hallquisth didn’t score a ton of points, there’s a very real chance he will make the NHL someday. His traits usurp the importance of production. A possible ceiling here is a second-pairing defenseman, and one that every playoff team will want on their roster.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk – 2/5, Reward – 3.5/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense – 4/10, Defense – 6.5/10

Awards/Achievements

Interviews/Links

Theodor Hallquisth Stats

Videos