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2015 NHL Draft Profiles: Joel Ek Eriksson

Joel Ek Eriksson, 6’2 Centre, Farjestad (Swedish Hockey League)

Joel Ek Eriksson Rankings:

  • 20th by ISS Hockey
  • 26th by Future Considerations
  • 18th McKeen’s Hockey
  • 43rd by Bob Mckenzie consensus rankings

Joel Ek Eriksson Strengths:

  • Effort and energy – Eriksson has been described as a strong two-way player and brings a great deal of intensity with each and every shift; he is a fierce workhorse on the forecheck and brings some of the best board play in this draft class; he finishes checks, blocks shots, win pucks battles and simply wants it more than anyone else; this is your prototypical coach’s dream – a player who leads by example every night
  • Goal-scoring ability – He is more of a natural scorer than a play-maker, displaying good scoring instincts and positional understanding; he has an above average wrist shot and is deft at finding and putting in loose pucks around the net

Joel Ek Eriksson Criticisms:

  • Top end potential – Some teams like to be able to hit a home run in the first round and it’s unlikely that Eriksson will ever be that type of player; while he does a lot of things well, you’d be hard pressed to say he does anything at an “elite” level’; his skating ability and overall offensive talent will likely grade out as average

The Verdict:

  • Potential two-way centre – He figures to be more of an excellent complementary piece than a centerpiece of a winning team; considering the importance of strength down the middle in today’s NHL, that’s certainly more than enough to justify a late first round selection; his impact could be in the mold of an Andrew Ladd or a David Backes type of player
  • Draft Day – Eriksson projects to be slot in comfortably toward the latter third of the first round

Joel Ek Eriksson Statistics

SeasonTeamLgGPGAPts+ / -
2013-14Farjestad J18J18 Elit191692521
Farjestad J18J18 Allvenskan1469155
Farjestad J20SuperElit132241
Sweden U17Int. JR112352
2014-15Farjestad J20SuperElit2521113213
FarjestadSHL344260
Sweden U18Int. JR13106162

Joel Ek Eriksson Video

Joel Ek Eriksson – Shift by Shift:

Joel Ek Eriksson – Highlights: