2023-24 Team: Färjestad BK J20 (Nationell)
Date of Birth: Apr. 10, 2006
Place of Birth: Karlstad, SWE
Ht: 6-foot-2 Wt: 207 pounds
Shoots: L
Position: C/LW
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2024 first-year eligible
Rankings
It may not be the best draft in terms of prospects coming out of Sweden but there are still some intriguing names when you look at the junior level. Färjestad BK J20’s Jack Berglund is definitely one name to keep an eye on. Berglund’s production may not jump off the page right away, finishing with 34 points in 41 games at the J20 level, but there’s a lot to love with his overall game as it’s a great combination of smarts, power and strength.
Related: THW’s 2024 NHL Draft Guide
Berglund doesn’t have that “wow factor” or will make plays that’ll get you off your feet, but he shows great composure and is extremely effective in everything he does as he’s smart when in control of a play. He has a great awareness and positioning in all three zones, displaying a strong work ethic and a steady 200-foot game. He plays with a great sense of purpose and intensity and is always doing the little things right to be on the right side of a play.
Berglund has great puck skills and soft hands to make moves in tight spaces. He’s always utilizing his size to his advantage to shield the puck and using that strong drive to get to the middle of the ice. As a result of his puck protection skills, it’s extremely difficult to knock the puck off him as he’s always in control. He can make plays with his deceptive playmaking or finish them off with his goal scoring abilities. He doesn’t excel in one main area and his offensive upside may not be up there compared to others, but he’s effective in all facets of the game.
Without the puck, Berglund is just as impactful. His smooth skating stride and speed allows him to quickly come back and help out on the back check and defend the rush. He’s always the first forward back in those situations, making him extremely reliable in defensive situations. He can effectively tie up opponents with his stick and he’s actively aggressive in one-on-one battles, making timely stick lifts to disrupt plays.
Other THW Draft Profiles
Jack Berglund – NHL Draft Projection
Berglund is probably not pushing anywhere near the first or even second-round. Though, he definitely has the skillset to be taken as a mid-round selection. That can be as high as the third-round or as late as the early part of the fifth. In my latest…
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