The Scouting Report
Leo Sahlin Wallenius is a 6-foot-0 and 183-pound defenseman who is mobile and offensive. The Skovde, Sweden native, is one that many scouts have an eye on due to his abilities in all three zones. One of the best offensive defensemen in this draft, he makes up for his lack of size with his top-tier playmaking and skating. He would be a nice addition to a team looking for a puck-moving defenseman who is dependable in his zone. Sahlin Wallenius played for five different teams last season, combining for 18 goals and 51 assists for 69 points in 81 games. He has committed to Vaxjo Lakers HC J20/ J20 Nationell for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
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Draft Projections
Ranked #60 by Eliteprospects.com
Ranked #29 by TSN/Criag Button
Ranked #35 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked#7 by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters)
Ranked #44 by Dobber Prospects
Ranked #33 by Conrad Jack of Inside the Rink
I’ve highlighted some of Leo Sahlin Wallenius’s attributes. Let’s take a deeper dive into his attributes and areas for improvement.
Great Skater
His smooth skating in his calling card and the one skill that makes him successful. He is quick to cover the opposition and at the same time joins the rush. He can dish the puck, skate, and receive the puck back going in for an offensive chance. He dangles like a forward and has some highlight reel type of plays in his tool bag. He has a smooth stride through the neutral zone and skates with an effortless stride.
Offensive Defenseman
Sahlin Wallenius creates offense from nothing. He has a good outlet and stretch pass that springs the forwards into the offensive zone. He is effective on the power play and is patient with the puck on the man advantage. His passing is an underrated skill and he uses it in all situations and to
advantage. He has the green light to jump into the play, which is does to open up the offense.
Areas of Improvement
Puck control
While he is one of the best offensive defensemen in this draft, his major flaw is that his puck control is not the best and is something to work on. Often, he tries to do too much with the puck, careless at times when trying to look for the perfect play offensively. His puck control issues have led to turnovers with some of them being costly in the back of his goaltender’s net. Sahlin Wallenius should be able to fix this during the summer and another season in Sweden.
Prospect Potential
While his flaws are few, the main focus is on his offensive abilities. He is a defenseman who is a first-or second-pairing defenseman who can quarterback the power-play. While he may not score many goals, his passing will get him quality points and could be in the range of 45 points per season, higher with the right offense around him.
Best Potential fit
While this draft could see many trades, the one team who stands out to draft him if he is still there is the Los Angeles Kings at #21. On the right side, the Kings have Drew Doughty, Jordan Spence, and Brandt Clarke.They need a left-handed defenseman who can give them offense and that player is Sahlin Wallenius. He can play opposite Doughty on the first power=-play unit and either Spence or Clarke on the second unit. He is also a strong skater who can fly on the ice, something Los Angeles has little of on defense or offense.
Final Thought
A tremendously skilled player with a high upside. His overall game is one of the best out of the qualified defensemen in this draft, raising his draft stock. The NHL team who drafts him could have a cornerstone, franchise defenseman, who could be eligible for the Calder Trophy and Norris Trophy in the near future.
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