Hugo Hävelid

July 2022 – Hävelid was not chosen in the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

June 2022 – It’s been a huge year for Hävelid. Posting a .920 and .925 in Sweden’s U20 regular season and playoffs, respectively, earned him the honor of the league’s top goaltender. His .929 in the U-18 World Championships was the best of any goaltender and was good enough for a gold medal along with the tournament’s top goaltender distinction. None of that comes down to luck. Hävelid is a very talented goaltender, arguably the best in his age group right now. However, despite it sometimes being viewed as an evaluation crutch for scouts, the reality of goaltending is that size plays a significant role in the position. Not that it can’t be overcome, but for a 5-10 goaltender like Hävelid, a lot will have to go right for him to play at the NHL level.

The strength of Hävelid’s game is in his control. Despite his smaller frame, he can travel effectively into position. This is an aspect of his game that I saw marked improvement as the year progressed. Both his hands and feet are quiet, allowing him to set himself properly for shots while still challenging the shooter appropriately. He makes effective reads, adjusting his positioning and movement to meet the needs of each scenario. He anticipates shooters’ intentions well, staying on his feet for as long as possible, putting himself in the best situation to react. Additionally, he doesn’t fall into the trap of being too in control. He competes hard and can make out-of-the-box saves when required. Hävelid has a very solid technical base, however, I would like to see him continue to improve his positioning, particularly on plays with pre-shot movement, and continue to strengthen his lower body to improve his movement speed. Ranked second among EU goalies for the NHL draft, it is likely that a team will take a bet on Hävelid in the middle rounds this summer. Given his relatively strong technical game and his impressive track record, there’s reason to believe that Hävelid will be able to succeed at the next level. Colin Hunter