Linus Eriksson is a talented center who is 2024 NHL Draft eligible. Last year he made a progression from Djurgardens J20 to Hockey Allsvenskan. The progression gave Eriksson extra confidence.
“My season went pretty well. It was a rough start. I just kept working and trusted the process. Coming out stronger,” Eriksson said. “It was good for me to play some games against men. My game got better.”
He was at the World Juniors for Sweden and was a point-per-game player. Sweden didn’t win gold, but he took that in stride.
“It was a big honor to be the captain of the team,” Eriksson stated. “It was good and it would have been nice to get that gold medal in the end. We wanted to win that and that was tough.”
The NHL Draft will be a big day for him and his family. So, I will stay hydrated,” Eriksson said with a smile
Eriksson’s one-timer is solid. And that’s something that this prospect has been working on.
“Pretty comfortable. More comfortable this year. I scored more goals after Christmas. That’s something I work on to be more comfortable with my shooting,” Eriksson explained. “I try to fake (shot deception) is what I am going to do. I try to read the goalie. There are many good players who do it. McDavid is insane at that.”
At the heart of it, Eriksson is a playmaker. Most centers are playmakers.
“I’m more of a playmaker,” Eriksson noted. “I like using the give-n-go.”
Centers have to defend. There’s no way around it the position calls for it and this young Swede is up for the challenge.
“I’m a two-way center. I like playing in the defensive zone,” said Eriksson. “I like that part of the game (Playing physical), but I think I can work on that too. It’s something that came naturally when I was up with the men’s team.”
New York bagels are the best in the world. There is no debate about that.
“I had some bagels. It was really good,” Eriksson responded. “I had it with cream cheese and ham. We have them at home but not this type.”
Skating is paramount in today’s game no matter where you play. Players of all ages work on it all the time.
“I am trying to get quicker in the first steps. I think it’s helped me in many ways. Of course on the breakouts, being in the right positions, on the rush too.”
I think Eriksson can be a solid third-line center. In a few more years I see him coming over and getting used to North American hockey and then he goes from the AHL to the NHL. A normal player progression.
He’s a high-character guy too and they’re hard to find.
Read more prospect profiles and see my final rankings.
