2015 NHL Draft Profiles: Joel Ek Eriksson

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

Joel Ek Eriksson Rankings:

• 20^th by ISS Hockey
• 26^th by Future Considerations
• 18^th McKeen’s Hockey
• 43^rd 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

Joel Ek Eriksson Video

Joel Ek Eriksson – Shift by Shift:

Joel Ek Eriksson – Highlights: