Nils Höglander

January 2021 – The 20-year-old has certainly made the most of his early opportunity in the NHL. He’s been stapled next to Bo Horvat on Vancouver’s second line since day one at training camp and has not looked out of place. He even had a couple of games worth of action on the top power-play unit while J.T. Miller sat on the COVID protocol list. The production has yet to follow – just one goal in five games, but he’s been effective along the wall and in transition. We knew the Swedish winger would have an advantage after a half-season of play in the SHL while everyone else sat around and waited, now he’ll need to maintain his position in the lineup with everyone clicking at full speed. Watch for decreasing minutes or role as an indication that a return to Sweden could be on the table. However, with Vancouver’s lack of forward firepower, it seems likely that Höglander is here to stay. Cam Robinson

December 2020 – The soon-to-be 20-year-old is working his way out of an unlucky goal-scoring spell. That spell had run nearly a full year. The offense-first winger had scored just three goals in 31 SHL games dating back to November 2019 before hitting the scoresheet three times in his last five contests. It’s a great sign ahead of his transition to North America and first NHL camp… whenever that actually occurs. Höglander has six points in his last seven games and 10 in 15 overall on the season. His tenacity is there. His hands are supreme. He’ll need to continue building his shot and working on the explosiveness in his stride, but his upside remains encouraging. There are some in the Canucks organization who quietly expect him to make some very real noise at camp this season. However, expect him to be a year out yet. Cam Robinson

September 2020 – Hoglander has worked out an agreement to stay with Rogle for the first two months of the season before departing for Vancouver and his first NHL training camp. Expectations are that he would return to the SHL if/when he doesn’t make the team. But if the AHL is running, that could be an option as well. Hoglander has looked good in early preseason action for his third SHL campaign. He’s being skating around the lineup at even-strength and has seen time on the top power-play unit. Expect some real numbers from him while in the Swedish top tier. Cam Robinson

April 2020 – Höglander has put pen to paper and signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Canucks. From all reports, he’ll need his Swedish club team, Rögle to allow him to stay in North America to play in the AHL if he doesn’t make the Canucks. With this in mind, it seems very likely that another season in the SHL is on the horizon for the creative and aggressive winger. Cam Robinson

March 2020 – Hoglander experienced a successful draft-plus one campaign. From international success at the WJC, internet fame with the multiple lacrosse-style goals, to battling and earning top-six deployment in Sweden’s top tier. The second-round pick would’ve likely been given a chance to suit up for his nation at the men’s World Championship were it not cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canucks will surely look to sign the skilled winger this summer and bring him over for training camp. Expect to see a European out-clause included that sees him back in Rogle instead of the AHL if he doesn’t crack the Vancouver lineup. This is a player who exhibits all the traits of a second-line winger capable of adding to peripheral categories. Cam Robinson

December 2019 – Hoglander has been the talk of the World Juniors this year. His incredible Michigan-style goal while in-flight to begin the event had the entire hockey-world buzzing. His incredible confidence and creativity since have kept the volume turned up. The 19-year-old concluded the preliminary portion of the event in a tie for second-most points with seven in four games. He looks ready to push the Swedes into the medal rounds. The 2019 second-round selection has made it known that he wishes to cross the pond and vie for a spot with the Canucks next season. We’ll see if he can pull it off, but this is a kid who has made a habit of pulling off the incredible. Cam Robinson

October 2019 – It’s been an eventful start to the SHL campaign for the Canucks’ second-rounder. Höglander has been buzzing on the second-line in Rögle. There, he has meshed with Carolina prospect (and former Blues’ first-round selection, Dominik Bokk). Höglander has produced two goals and three points in seven contests. However, his most recent game ended early in the first period when he delivered a nasty elbow which led to his ejection and a five-game suspension. This isn’t the first time the 18-year-old has crossed a line with his elbow.

Nils Höglander channelling his inner Gordie Howe with this vicious elbow. He received 5+10+10 and was ejected. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/nyFn7JFk8t

— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) October 3, 2019

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He may only stand 5’10, but he plays with a great deal of fire. That will serve him well, but he’ll need to know where the line is and stay within it. Höglander will return to action later this month and continue to build up to what should be a standout performance for the Swedes at the WJC. Cam Robinson

June 2019 – The Vancouver Canucks selected Höglander with the 40th overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old winger spent the entire season with Rogle of the SHL where he produced well in a third line role. Höglander plays bigger than his 5’9 stature. He blends good speed, a darting style, confidence and a nice release. Cam Robinson

June 2019 – Höglander was officially measured at 5-foot-9.5 and 188 pounds at the NHL Draft Combine.  Jokke Nevalainen

February 2019 – After spending most of the past two seasons in the Allsvenskan, Höglander has made the jump to the top level for his draft season. Even though Rögle is one of the worst teams in the SHL and Höglander’s minutes have been limited, he’s managed to put up good numbers considering his age. Höglander is a very talented skater with speed that allows him to get breakaway opportunities quite frequently. He has quick and soft hands which allow him to make highlight reel type plays. He’s also a quick thinker who likes to use all those qualities and play a fast-paced game. On top of those qualities, Höglander works really hard and is defensively responsibly as well. And even though he’s undersized at just 5-foot-9, he’s fearless on the ice. He likes to get his nose dirty in front of the net, and he loves to throw big open ice hits. Höglander has top-six upside but even if his offensive upside doesn’t fully materialize, he can still become a great third-liner. He will likely require another year of development before challenging for a spot on an NHL roster.  Jokke Nevalainen