NHL Prospect Watch: Sweden

NHL prospects across the globe have started their 2020-21 season and are in the spotlight among fans and personnel across the League. Each Tuesday, NHL.com will examine one of the major professional leagues in Europe, detailing certain players to watch, as well as noting those from other European leagues who are playing well.
Today, Sweden:

Nils Hoglander has proven to be an offensive catalyst the past two seasons with Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League.
The 20-year-old forward, selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round (No. 40) of the 2019 NHL Draft, now hopes to be given an opportunity to showcase that talent in the NHL this season.
"We talked internally, and I think (Canucks coach) Travis Green is going to maybe look at Hoglander in that spot next to (left wing) Tanner Pearson and (center) Bo Horvat," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. "He'll give [Jake Virtanen] the first crack at it and then we've got some other guys, some younger players, like Hoglander and Vasily Podkolzin."
Hoglander (5-foot-9, 185 pounds) impressed with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) and 36 shots on goal while averaging 14:02 in ice time in 23 games this season in the top professional men's league in Sweden.
"He's a type of guy who's first on pucks," Benning said. "He's not a tall player but he's strong on the puck, can turn on a dime and can shake defenders that way because of his quickness. He'll take the puck to the net and make good plays around the net. Our scouts who have watched him play this year say he's taking another step."

Hoglander is a left-handed shot and has played left wing and right wing in Sweden. His versatility is one of many assets that has Benning excited.
"The thing I like about him, besides his skill, he's got some feistiness," Benning said. "He's a competitive kid, gets the puck on his stick and he doesn't want to give it up until he makes a good play. He's going to come to training camp and we're going to give him a good look. If he's ready to play, we're going to give him an opportunity."
Hoglander scored 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 41 games with Rogle last season and 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 50 games in 2018-19.
He scored 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven games for third-place Sweden at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Czech Republic and has two seasons remaining after this one on his contract with Rogle. That won't deny him the chance to play in the NHL if he makes an impression in Vancouver's training camp, scheduled to begin Jan. 3.
"We have an out in his contract where when we get started for training camp, he can come here, go to camp and then, you know, we decide from there what happens next," Benning said.

Four other NHL prospects currently playing well in Sweden:

Adam Edstrom, F, Rogle
The 20-year-old has scored six points (one goal, five assists), has 27 hits, 11 blocked shots and 27 shots on goal while averaging 11:22 in ice time in 19 games in the Swedish Hockey League. Edstrom (6-foot-6, 210 pounds) was selected by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (No. 161) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Joakim Nygard, F, Farjestad
The 27-year-old signed with the Edmonton Oilers as an undrafted free agent on May 24, 2019, after six seasons with Farjestad of the SHL, and scored nine points (three goals, six assists) in 33 games as an NHL rookie last season. The left wing has scored 10 points (seven goals, three assists), three power-play goals, and averaged 16:11 in ice time in 15 games on loan with Farjestad this season.
Oliver Wahlstrom, F, AIK
Chosen No. 11 by the New York Islanders in the 2018 NHL Draft, Wahlstrom (6-1, 207) scored eight points (four goals, four assists) in 10 games this season on loan with AIK of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest professional men's league in Sweden. The 20-year-old scored 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 45 games with Bridgeport of the American Hockey League last season and had no points in nine games for the Islanders.
Jonathan Davidsson, F, Vasterviks
The 23-year-old scored four points (one goal, three assists) in 10 games in HockeyAllsvenskan. Davidsson (5-11, 185) was acquired by the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 22, 2019 from the Columbus Blue Jackets, who selected the right wing in the sixth round (No. 170) of the 2017 NHL Draft. He scored five points (two goals, three assists) in 18 games with Belleville (AHL) last season.

Five other NHL prospects to keep an eye on:

Vitaly Abramov (Ottawa Senators), F, Jukurit: The 22-year-old (5-10, 180), selected in the third round (No. 65) of the 2016 NHL Draft, scored seven points (five goals, two assists) in eight games on loan in Liiga, the top professional men's league in Finland. He scored 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 51 games with Belleville in 2019-20.
Drew O'Connor (Pittsburgh Penguins), F, Manglerud: The 22-year-old (6-3, 200), who signed a two-year, entry-level contract on March 10 after two seasons at Dartmouth, has scored 10 points (six goals, four assists) in seven games on loan in Norway. O'Connor has a good chance at earning a spot in the Penguins lineup out of training camp.
Michael Rasmussen (Detroit Red Wings), F, Graz99ers: The 21-year-old (6-6, 229), chosen No. 9 in the 2017 NHL Draft, has scored 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 18 games on loan in the ICE Hockey League, the top professional men's league in Austria. Rasmussen scored 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 35 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) last season.
German Rubtsov (Philadelphia Flyers), F, Sochi: The 22-year-old has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in 30 games in the Kontinental Hockey League this season. Rubtsov (6-2, 178), chosen No. 22 in the 2016 NHL Draft, scored 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 42 games with Lehigh Valley (AHL) last season and will join the Flyers for training camp.
Shakir Mukhamadullin (New Jersey Devils), D, Ufa: The 18-year-old (6-4, 178), selected No. 20 in the 2020 NHL Draft, is expected to play a big role for Russia at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship after scoring nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 31 games in the KHL this season.