Sweden Stock Watch: Viggo Björck's draft stock climbing since World Juniors

The regular season in Sweden is a month away from ending before the playoffs. It can be tough for some prospects to get the trust from coaches they need, and some need to find new environments to keep developing.

For example, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Melvin Fernström went over to get ice-time in the AHL, as he has struggled to get SHL minutes all season. He played for Örebro, who are at risk of elimination. Individual development will always come second in those situations. 

Some prospects can get extra chances on the teams that are already in and want to rest their semi-injured players. Many of the best prospects, though, have already played so well over time that they are key assets for their respective teams going into the most important games of the season. The latter category will get the most focus in this month’s article.

Stock Rising 📈  

Viggo Björck, C, Djurgårdens IF (2026 NHL Draft)

Björck has been one of the best players on Djurgården since coming back from the World Juniors. He plays big minutes and leads one of the top-lines night after night. Even if his point production isn’t remarkable, he impacts the game at a high level every game. 

He makes smart plays at a high pace and even though he looks like he is skating at the top of his intensity level it still doesn’t limit his puck skill abilities or his control of space. He opens up space, he challenges defenders on the inside and he makes smart behind his back plays too. He wins puck battles with proactiveness, strong balance and puck skills which compensates for his lack of reach. On the power play, he drives the play from the right circle and can be both a passer and a shooter. Defensively, he is at the right position and he makes it look easy to read what the opponents are trying to do. 

It’s rare to see a U18 player play such a strong all-around game in the SHL. I’m still not convinced that he has elite NHL offensive upside, but a very good third-line centre seems to be Björck's floor, and he will be a safe pick to make after the top six or seven players have been selected in the draft. He will be a useful player soon and for a long time for the team that picks him.

Adam Andersson, C, Leksands IF U20 (2026 NHL Draft)

Andersson is one of the more improved Swedish draft eligible prospects over the last few months. The part of his game that is most improved is his skating. He has gotten faster in his straight-line mobility as well as in the ability to use cutbacks and making quick turns with the puck to separate from opponents. 

He plays an all-around strong game as a centre. He puts a lot of pressure on the puck carrier defensively and limits the opponents time and space. He uses his size and reach to win puck battles and play physically. He isn’t a super skilled play-driver offensively but is strong on the puck along the boards and in tight spaces. His playmaking in transition is also good. He is a strong bottom-six centre prospect and a potential top-50 pick in the upcoming draft. 

Rasmus Bergqvist, D, Skellefteå AIK (Montreal Canadiens)

Bergqvist’s role with Skellefteå in the SHL is growing, and he has shown steady progress during the season. He shows strong physical skills, and wins puck battles with strong balance and smart puck protection. He plays calm under pressure and has improved his puck skills. He moves the puck to create offence, not just to relieve pressure. He also doesn’t hesitate to skate with the puck on break outs. 

Defensively, he is solid in positioning and plays with aggression. Offensively, he isn't shy to act if needed even though his biggest strengths are as a defensive defenceman. His activation on both sides of the puck in combination with his aggression gives him more of a good bottom-pair projection. That's an impressive progression from a player who was a draft-plus-one seventh round pick in 2024.

Linus Eriksson, C, Timrå IK (Florida Panthers)

Eriksson was a “falling” stock two months ago here, and since he started playing in the SHL, has often been a smart defensive player showing little offensive upside. That has changed since he came back from the World Juniors. He now looks more confident making creative plays and generates more offence. He is a proactive player due to his play-reading abilities, which makes him an active player offensively. He tends to hold on to the puck more and has also shown his dangerous wrist shot more lately. 

His point production has picked up from zero to some. If his smart positioning and strong board game can be combined with offensive generating plays more consistently, then Eriksson’s bottom-six projection will be much likely to succeed.

Stock Steady ↔️

Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgårdens IF (New York Islanders)

Eklund has finally started scoring goals in the SHL. Three of his four SHL goals came in the last four games before the Olympic break. Eklund is starting to get more comfortable at the SHL level in general. He is a strong checker with excellent scanning habits and proactive mobility to shut down opponents. He also scans to see how his linemates act, and is good at covering up dangerous areas. 

Offensively, he shines now and then. He contributes mostly with loose puck recoveries and in transition. When driving the puck in the offensive he often seeks an early pass and goes to the net. I would like to see him plan his offensive action as well as his defensive actions. His playmaking would shine more then. Physically, he is very effective, but would benefit from stronger core strength as he still often falls down on the ice. His stock is stable as a top-six forward prospect, but he might benefit from another season in the SHL to become the player he needs to be when he steps over to North America.

Stock Falling 📉 

Noel Fransén, D, Färjestads BK (Carolina Hurricanes)

Fransén is still an active defenceman that likes to move the puck. He is a good skater and can break out from forechecking pressure with his speed. In the offensive zone, he is active to find open spaces and to make good plays. He lacks physical skills and often struggles to handle the retrievals at the SHL level. When he is pressured and can’t use his skating to escape, he struggles to find other ways to move the puck. 

He needs to learn more strategies to feel more calm under pressure, and to be able to use the skill that he has. He is a talented defenceman, but doesn’t show NHL calibre potential at this point, as in the smaller rinks, the retrieval game and handling of physical pressure is even more important.