The 2025 NHL draft might not have the same amount of projected talent as past drafts, but it is still a strong draft nonetheless. There is not a prospect in this year’s draft with the perceived talent on the same level as left-winger Lucas Raymond who recently signed an eight-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Raymond was drafted by the Red Wings with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft. Recently, center Lucas Pettersson was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks with the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
The last time the country of Sweden had the number one overall pick in the NHL draft was when the Sabres drafted defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in 2018. Dahlin was named to the all-rookie team in 2018-19 when he played in all 82 games for the Sabres scoring nine goals and adding 35 assists. The Lidkoping, Sweden native has received votes for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman for his performance during the last two seasons.
Anton Frondell: Frondell is one of the top prospects eligible for the 2025 NHL entry draft. At the J18 and J20 levels combined last season, Frondell scored 23 goals and added 26 assists. At only 6-foot even and 178 pounds. Frondell is not the biggest forward but makes up for this by his ability to shield the puck. The Trånsgund, Sweden native can rip pucks off the weakside flank on the powerplay. Frondell is not listed on the Four Nations Faceoff and did not play at the recent 2024 Hilinka Gretzky Cup.
Karl Annorn: Defenseman Karl Annborn is the third-best prospect going into the 2025 NHL entry draft per these same rankings. Annborn is an Örebro, Sweden native who is a two-way defenseman at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, who thinks the game very well. Beyond this, Annborn plays a calm defensive game. In four games for the Sweden under 20 team Annborn scored a goal and added three assists. Any team could use a defenseman such as this in today’s NHL.
Sascha Boumedienne: Boumedienne is a defensive prospect with an offensive game out of Oulu, Finland. The current Boston University commit is only 17 years old but is already 6’2” and weighing 183 lbs. At the time of the 2025 NHL entry draft, Boumedienne will be 18 years old and thus be eligible to be drafted. He made an immediate impact with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, scoring 13 points in his first 19 games played for the team.
Filip Ekberg: Ekberg is a 17-year-old left-winger who is small at only 5’10” but may continue to grow. The Uppsala, Sweden native is a smart winger who makes plays. For the Sweden U17 team during the 2023-24 season in the International Junior League where Ekberg scored five goals and added 13 assists in 18 games. Ekberg was selected 33rd overall by the Ottawa 67s in the recent Canadian Hockey League import draft. Ekberg’s game relies heavily on speed, puck handling, and shooting accuracy.
Victor Eklund: Eklund is only 5’11” but makes up for a lack of size by being both small and fast. The right-winger is a two-way forward that plays with skill. Eklund is only 17-years-old and still has time to grow into the 5’11” frame. For Djurgardens IF during the 2023-24 season in the HockeyAllsvenskan the Stockholm, Sweden native scored one goal and added three assists in 15 games played. Eklund sees the recent World Junior Championships showcase tournament as a “good opportunity” to show off his skills ahead of the 2025 NHL entry draft, of which he will be eligible.
There is still a lot of time until the 2025 NHL entry draft. Whether or not your favorite team is in line to draft number one overall is unknown. What is known is that Sweden will have many prospects that could be in the top of the draft. Anton Frondell is one of the top prospects headed into the 2024-25 HockeyAllsvenskan season. His hockey IQ only bolsters this opinion.
