The SHL playoffs have been a wild ride, and the intensity has only ramped up as the stakes continue to rise. With each round, the pace tightens, the margins shrink, and the spotlight grows brighter, especially for a group of NHL-affiliated prospects looking to make their mark against men in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues.
Playoff hockey in Sweden has progressed mostly as expected so far, with #1 seed Skellefteå AIK sprinting to the championship series relatively unimpeded, losing only twice so far across three rounds. Their opponent, Rögle BK, knocked off #5 seed Färjestad BK and #3 seed Växjö Lakers HC. The championship series is currently 2-0 for Skellefteå and Rögle simply looks out of their depth. Skellefteå has been the runaway best team all year long and it appears it will stay that way.
In this season’s last rendition of the SHL monthly update, we take a look at six of the NHL-affiliated players that have been making an impact on their SHL playoff squad. For these prospects, it’s not just about production, it’s about how they handle the increased physicality and speed of professional playoff hockey. Stay tuned for the SHL season wrap-up after the finals are finished.
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Noah Dower-Nilsson (C/W, 6-0, 185 lbs) – Frölunda HC – DET, 3rd Rd, 73rd overall (2023)
SHL Postseason Stats: 6 GP, 2 G + 2 A = 4 Pts
Dower-Nilsson has a lot of really impressive playmaking skills and his offensive feel for the game is mind-blowing at times. His vision stands out, he plays with patience, and does a great job finding teammates in space. The Red Wings prospect struggles at times to influence the game though because he isn’t physically dominant or explosive enough right now, and this makes it difficult to project him as NHL-ready with his current skillset. That said, he’s shown a lot of improvement over the course of the year and especially since being drafted in 2023. He’s still a few years away, and even then, he’ll likely need to continue rounding out the defensive side of his game to really push for a role.
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Victor Stjernborg (C/W, 5-10, 203 lbs) – Skellefteå AIK – CHI, 4th Rd, 108th overall (2021)
SHL Postseason Stats: 12 GP, 4 G + 2 A = 6 Pts
Stjernborg has pretty solid skill and when he gets his opportunities, he’s a capable finisher. There’s a bit of a stylistic resemblance to Victor Eklund in how he plays, especially in how he attacks chances. The question is whether there’s enough creativity and dynamism in his game to translate that role to the NHL level. To get there, his forechecking game will need to continue improving so he can consistently impact shifts without the puck. With Chicago already having a number of similar archetypal players, and higher-end ones at that, it may be tough for Stjernborg to carve out a role anytime soon. That being said, he’s impressed during this playoff run with Skellefteå, even in limited ice-time.
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Tinus Luc Koblar (C, 6-3, 198 lbs) – Leksands IF – TOR, Round 2, 64th overall (2025)
SHL Postseason Stats: 4 GP, 0 G + 0 A = 0 Pts
Koblar is physically impressive and checks a lot of boxes from a tools standpoint. He has a strong skating base, moves well for his size, and plays a heavy game around the net. He’s
tough to handle physically, throws hits, and has enough pace to keep up. His game feels very projectable as he makes smart decisions, stays engaged defensively, and positions himself well off the puck. There’s a lot of similarity to someone like Edmonton Oilers rookie Josh Samanski stylistically, and Koblar projects as the type of reliable bottom-six centerman you can trust in a variety of roles.
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Gregor Biber (D, 6-3, 196 lbs) – Rögle BK – UTAH, Round 4, 98th overall (2024)
SHL Postseason Stats: 12 GP, 0 G + 0 A = 0 Pts
Biber saw inconsistent usage throughout Rögle’s playoff run and hasn’t played yet in the finals, but even based on the limited body of work, there are clear traits to work with. He uses his size really well, especially on defensive puck receptions, which buys him time and space to make plays. He maintains a solid gap and has a strong reach, but his skating is a concern—particularly in transition and when defending speed off the rush. Faster players can beat him wide, and that’s something that will need to improve if he’s going to take a step. Biber is physically engaged and plays a steady defensive game, projecting as a potential bottom-pairing defensive defenseman if the technical side, especially skating and puck movement, continues to develop.
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Zeb Forsfjäll (C, 5-9, 181 lbs) – Skellefteå AIK – SEA, Round 6, 180th overall (2023)
SHL Postseason Stats: 11 GP, 0 G + 3 A = 3 Pts
Forsfjäll brings a lot of value as a playmaker. He sees the ice well and can distribute effectively, even if the high-end creativity or dynamism of a top-six producer isn’t quite there. He’s a solid skater, plays with a noticeable edge, has a high motor, and he’s consistently staying involved physically. One thing he does well is dropping back to build speed and receive passes in stride, which allows him to carry momentum through the neutral zone. Forsfjäll is clearly making a conscious effort to play a responsible defensive game and has earned trust in key situations, including penalty kill usage. That said, there are still moments off-puck where he makes safe decisions that end up taking him out of the play, leaving him in a decent position but not truly engaged. At his size, without elite puck skill or skating, there are obvious hurdles, but the motor, instincts, and defensive detail give him a legitimate chance to carve out a role.
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Theo Stockselius (C, 6-3, 196 lbs) – Djurgårdens IF – CGY, Round 2, 54th overall (2025)
SHL Postseason Stats: 3 GP, 0 G + 0 A = 0 Pts
Stockselius is one of the more intriguing players in this group, and is one of my favorite prospects outside of the NHL. Even with a short postseason, Stockselius is worth highlighting again. In my opinion, there’s a strong case to be made that he could develop into one of the smarter players at the NHL level. His technical skills are still a bit raw, but the tools are there, and his skating base is very good—he should develop into a strong skater. What really stands out is how well he plays off his teammates. Stockselius consistently creates space for others and seems to process the game at a high level. The offensive ceiling may not be elite, but it feels very projectable given his size, dual-threat ability, and hockey sense. Defensively, his game is still unpolished, but there’s a strong foundation with his reach and positioning. Overall, he projects really well as a middle-six C/W who can be used in a wide range of situations and alongside different types of players.
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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