Montreal Canadiens fans wish the team will contend for a playoff spot this year. However, the early predictions say they are still two years away from being up there with those teams. The Canadiens may surprise some people and make a run at the playoffs deeper into the season. If they do, they might have the chance to draft Swedish playmaker Filip Ekberg.
Ekberg was one of the top prospects in Sweden for the upcoming NHL Draft. However, North American fans and the teams' scouts will have more access to him as he comes to the Ontario Hockey League to play with the Ottawa 67's.
Rumors out of Sweden that #2025NHLDraft top Swedish prospect Filip Ekberg is leaving Almtuna IS and expected to join the Ottawa 67's.
— Austin Kelly (@AustinReporting) July 26, 2024
Ekberg played in the Swedish junior league this past season, recording 12 goals and 17 assists with Almtuna IS. He also impressed with the Sweden U17 team. He played 18 games at the international level, with five goals and 13 assists. Ekberg's best performance was in the World Under-17 Challenge, registering two goals and six assists in seven games.
""He's a comfortable one-touch shooter, he's got deft hands, he's got some craft and creativity both on the puck and as a passer. There are questions about small wingers that he'll have to answer, but I like his work ethic off the puck enough to believe his game might be projectable up levels as a top-nine playmaker.""Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
Ekberg's projection is closer to late-second round, but his move to the OHL will make him more accessible to scouts than the Swedish U17 league. Ekberg is a player that could rise the rankings and be in the Canadiens' drafting range by the end of the season.