In this month’s rendition of the SHL update, we’re going to review Sweden’s 2026 World Junior Championship winning roster and take a look at some of the key players for them throughout the tournament. I know last month I promised the January update would be a goalie edition but the World Juniors were electric and I couldn’t miss an opportunity to talk more about this really exciting group of Swedish youngsters.
Stay tuned in to Swedish hockey and the SHL all year long including next month’s HIGHLY anticipated NHL drafted prospects update, goalie edition—updates are coming every third Monday of the month. Enjoy!
***
Ivar Stenberg (LW, 6-0, 181) – Frölunda HC – 2026 Draft Eligible
SHL Stats: 27 GP, 6 + 20 = 26 Pts
Stenberg had a slow start to the World Juniors. He looked indecisive and much more sluggish than usual. He had a hard time finding the middle of the ice, often just using his speed and puckhandling to buzz around the perimeter. As the tournament went on though, he began to find his game, attacked the middle with ferocity, and finished as Sweden’s joint top scorer. I was hoping to see a Stenberg at this tournament that really pushed the “first-overall” agenda, but I don’t think we got that. He’s still in the conversation obviously and by no means had a bad tournament, but I think it’s fair to say I was slightly underwhelmed.
*
Jack Berglund (C, 6-4, 209) – Färjestad BK – PHI, 2nd Rd, 51st Overall
SHL Stats: 25 GP, 4 + 2 = 6 Pts
Berglund was a leader for Sweden, wearing the C and using his strength and maturity to play in all situations. He came up with some clutch goals throughout the tournament and showcased a two-way game reminiscent of NHLers like Nick Bjugstad or Adam Lowry. Now Flyers fans, I’m not promising you an Adam Lowry but there were certainly flashes from Berglund in this tournament that potentially project him as a strong, physical, two-way bottom-six center.
*
Viggo Björck (C, 5-10, 172) – Djurgårdens IF – 2026 Draft Eligible
SHL Stats: 27 GP, 4 + 4 = 8 Pts
Björck truly blew me away in this tournament. In my opinion there were several games where Björck was Sweden’s best player and led the offensive charge. I think the most underrated part of his game is his vision and intelligence. He doesn’t have a shot like Frondell, he doesn’t forecheck like Genborg, he can’t skate like Eklund or even Stenberg, but he’s creative and calculating. Everything Björck does is purposeful and thought out. He anticipates the play, sees where his teammates will be, and projects where the puck will end up. We all know he’s got high end technical tools, but I hadn’t noticed how elite his awareness was. Björck hasn’t left my top-10 all year but I gained a lot of respect for his game at this tournament. I find it really hard to imagine a scenario where Björck doesn’t end up playing in the NHL. Worst case scenario I project him as a middle-six scoring winger.
*
Anton Frondell (C, 6-1, 205) – Djurgårdens IF – CHI, 1st Rd, 3rd Overall
SHL Stats: 28 GP, 12 + 6 = 18 Pts
Frondell won “Best Forward” at the 2026 World Juniors, and while I don’t think he was the best forward, he certainly had a good tournament. Frondell is involved all over the ice. He forechecks, he throws hits, he plays responsible defense, he wins draws, and he shoots the puck at Mach 1. Honestly in this tournament I was a bit underwhelmed by Frondell offensively, I thought during some stretches of games all he seemed to bring to the table in the o-zone was his shot. Yet other times he pulled off plays from the half-wall that are impossible for any other player in the tournament. I’ve said this before but Frondell’s strength and ability to shield the puck is very Draisaitl-esque and we saw flashes of that. While at times he didn’t dominate quite like I expected him to, I have no doubt in my mind Frondell is going to be a very good NHLer pretty soon.
*
Eddie Genborg (LW, 6-2, 198) – Timrå IK – DET, 2nd Rd, 44th Overall
SHL Stats: 28 GP, 8 + 7 = 15 Pts
Eddie Genborg did Eddie Genborg things all tournament and lived up spectacularly to the expectations I had of him. I expected him to get his hands dirty, battle in front of the net, forecheck hard, finish checks, and showcase his severely underrated shot. He did exactly that. I could talk about Genborg all day. I’ve loved his game since his draft year and still project him to transition comfortably into an NHL middle-six within the next couple years. He makes the opposition’s job incredibly difficult in all of these little ways and every team in the NHL wants a guy like that.
*
Alfons Freij (D, 6-1, 198) – Timrå IK – WPG, 2nd Rd, 37th Overall
SHL Stats: 27 GP, 0 + 2 = 2 Pts
Freij really impressed me with his 2026 World Juniors campaign. His skating ability just gets better and better. In terms of raw ability, Freij is probably one of the best skating defensemen in the world not currently playing in the NHL. The offensive instincts are coming together as well for him. I still don’t believe Freij’s got the creative, game-breaking, NHL PP1 upside that some scouts believe he has but his skating ability and technical tools make him an occasional playmaking threat. I still worry that Freij isn’t cut out for the physicality and battle level of the NHL and that he can be a defensive liability too often but the tools of a smooth skating, puck-moving, playmaking, bottom-pairing defenseman are 100% there.
*
Felix Carell (D, 6’1″, 201) – Malmö Redhawks – DY+1, 2026 Draft Eligible
SHL Stats: 14 GP, 0 + 0 = 0 Pts
Coming into the tournament I didn’t know very much about Felix Carell. Second year draft eligible guy who didn’t score much in the J20 Nationell last season didn’t seem intriguing enough to bother with a viewing but he really impressed me at the World Juniors. Carell skates well, has above average play reading instincts, and plays a simple possession type of game. He definitely deserves an isolated viewing later this year and could be someone that NHL teams take a late round shot at.
*
William Håkansson (D, 6-4, 207) – Luleå HF – 2026 Draft Eligible
SHL Stats: 25 GP, 0 + 2 = 2 Pts
Håkansson played his usual defensively strong and responsible game all tournament. His long reach, above average skating, and impressive d-zone habits made him reliable and safe to play in any defensive situation for Sweden. Håkansson is already quite strong and yet he’s slender relative to his size. I would imagine there’s a good amount of strength and power yet to be added to his frame. Håkansson is one of those defenders every year that I place late first round or early second round and never move because the projectability of their defensive game feels so safe to be a bottom-pairing shutdown guy. The main concern for me though, besides the lack of offensive upside, is his ability to play under pressure. Håkansson makes smart decisions and executes breakouts and transitions well when he has the time, but when he doesn’t he’s extremely prone to mistakes. Obviously this is a common issue with young defenders and can be ironed out with time but it’s a limiting factor for his projection.
***
Thanks for reading! I’m Greysen — a Winnipeg-based scout working with the Olds Grizzlys in the AJHL.
Always analyzing, always learning.
Follow my work on Twitter: @goudygreysen