2024-25 Team: Skellefteå AIK (J18/J20 Nationell, Swedish Hockey League)
Date of Birth: Feb 10, 2007
Place of Birth: Järfälla, Sweden
Height: 5-feet-10 Weight: 183 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Forward
Viktor Klingsell is a Swedish winger who has been ranked, on average, in the top 40 players for the 2025 NHL Draft. Hockey runs in the family, with both his father and older brother playing divisional hockey in Sweden. Klingsell began playing with the Skellefteå organization in the 2022-2023 season after joining their U16 regional team. This season, he appeared in games for the J18, J20, and SHL-level teams and joined Sweden’s U18 team on the international stage. Across 68 games this season, he has tallied 73 points. His most impressive performance was with Team Sweden U18 at the IIHF’s U18 World Championship. He notched an impressive 31 points in 20 games (12 goals, 19 assists). He also stood out internationally at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (4 goals, 8 assists) and the World Junior A Challenge (3 goals, 4 assists). During the regular season, he scored 18 goals and registered 24 assists across 45 games with Skellefteå.
Awards/Achievements
- 2024-25: Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze Medal
- 2024-25: Led the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in points (12)
- 2024-25: World Junior A Challenge Silver Medal
Scouting Report
Viktor Klingsell is a skilled forward who produces well and has room to grow and develop. While he is a bit undersized for now, he is an excellent skater and can get to space in small areas quickly to win the puck. He is good along the boards and has a good ability to set up strong plays and open up lanes for his teammates. He plays proactively and comes out swinging from the get-go. Where Klingsell could use some development is in his overall physicality. He does not often body-check or use his body to defend. This may come as he continues to grow and develop his size and strength. He also needs continued development in his confidence. Clearly, he plays well in high-pressure, high-stakes situations, so giving him the chance to continue to develop his play on a bigger stage (such as at the AHL level) will be beneficial to his overall game.
He really stood out at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, wowing both scouts and fans alike. He led the tournament offensively with 12 points in five games. A scout noted that he “truly wowed at times with his ability to feather the puck into the smallest gaps” and that he “[showed] all the hallmarks of an elite playmaker”. Klingsell and his line were one of the key reasons Sweden took home bronze in that tournament.
Should Klingsell continue to show up and show out the way he has at the international level, he will be a sure-fire solid pick for an NHL team looking for a skilled forward to add to their pipeline. He still needs some time to develop before he is ready to join the NHL elite, but with increased size, confidence, and practice, he will be a reliable middle-to-bottom-six forward.
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