Eric Nilson
2024-25 Team: Djurgardens
Date of birth: May 11, 2007
Place of birth: Calgary, Alberta
HT: 6 feet 0 wt: 154 lbs
Shooting: Right
Position: Center/Wind
NHL Draft Qualification: Qualifications in 2025
Ranking
Just as his father, Marcus, played 521 games in the NHL, Eric Nilson is a solid two-way forward capable of playing up and down in a variety of situations. Over the past few years he has come from the hockey factory organized by Djurgardens like William Eklund, Noah Ostlund, Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Liam Ohgren, and over the past few years he has been at his breakthrough speed, shooting, and the wisdom of all three Zones. While most of them are still unsure of his offensive ceiling, they all agree that he will be the bottom six (at least) of the NHL team in the future.
Related: THW’s 2025 NHL Draft Guide
Nilson isn’t the biggest guy on the ice at 6-foot-0-foot-154 pounds, but his hockey IQ makes up for that because he always seems to be in the right position on offense or defense. He is also versatile, able to play center and wings at the same time, and has excellent skating ability that can make him a threat in the modern NHL.
The Scouts also impressed with Nelson’s level of competition, work ethics and willingness to do anything, to prevent the hockey from being out of the team’s network, from kicking out of the ball, body body along the board, and the hockey sport of Felix Robbins of McKei Hockey: [subscribing] In other words: “The best time to throw out a puck is after you lose it” – in other words, cleverly use his stick to pull the puck opponent off in an ounce or transition. ”
A good example is that during the J18 final, Nelson’s team fell 4-3 and urged to take root to score goals. He made two goal line savings with net amount to keep the deficit at one, then cleared the puck first, then cleared the puck again, and then got the beauty of playing soon after. This led to an offensive opportunity and eventually reached the tie’s goal. Then, to open it, he earned an assist on the overtime winner to capture Lulia’s gold and ended the game with a goal and two assists.
Overall, Nelson appears to have clutch genes and the innate ability to strengthen the game in the playoffs and in his country. His game draws on these circumstances, as he is the exact prototype that always flourishes on the normal season and international stage. It has appeared many times in his hockey career, from hat tricks and four points in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup bronze medal, especially his only points in the tournament to the aforementioned goal line and three points in Game 3 of the J18 final. Not to mention, his scoring in international games and playoffs (J18 and J20 levels) scored 20 goals and 49 points in 51 games and 20 goals and 49 points and 46 points in 36 games, respectively. In this season alone, he scored 11 goals and 30 points between the J18 and J20 teams, both of which won gold medals.
While Nelson failed to pass the gold medal match in Sweden at the U18 World Championship, he did perform well, scoring two goals and five points while showing more offense, his usual sport, work ethics and full play.
All in all, Nelson should be an interesting prospect as each team needs a reliable center that can be deployed in all situations and strengthened the game during the most important time of the year. With some strength and development, he may be one of those people we will review in the future and talk about it at the end of the first round or earlier.
Other draft information
Eric Nilson – NHL draft prediction
Nelson will certainly gain some interest in the teams early and late in the first and second rounds. Considering his already strong defensive game, I can see No. 25 (Baracchini) up to 25 (Baracchini), down to No. 85 (FC Hockey) up to 85 (FC Hockey). If I had to make a prediction, I would say he would be selected between weeks 25 and 30.
quotation marks
“Eric Nilson is a high-quality, two-way center with excellent hockey skills that are able to make an impact in all three areas. Although his size and strength are areas of concern, his work ethics and hockey awareness suggests that it is possible for him to overcome these limitations by developing models and physical growth. Nilson has valuable contributors.” – Neutral District
“Nelson is rising for me. He is a very skilled right ball and it’s hard to defend in a very small place. Nelson makes good use of his excellent skating and escaping pressure in his current weight. – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
“Nelson is a slim but smart center, one of the clever forwards in the hockey draft on both sides. He has and does not have a smart route to hockey, finds the space he has, always gets his head and eyes to raise his head and handles the game at an advanced level.” – Scott Wheeler, Track and Field (from 2025 NHL Draft Prospects: Matthew Schefell sports3/25/25)
“Nelson is generally a very smart player, showing his patients the ability to distribute the hockey in the offensive zone, and his vision allows him to make some great pass games. He has a good shot, he is in a good position and can get amazing strength behind a single game. However, his lack of high-end hockey traffic and fast ability will make his offensive rate higher. – Felix Robbins, McKeen’s hockey
Advantages
- Hockey IQ
- speed
- shooting
- Game/Visual
- Motor/competitive level
- Two-way game
- There is history during important periods of the year (whether it is the playoffs or international competitions)
Under construction (improved)
- Requires increased size and strength
- It seems limited offensive ceiling
- puck
NHL Potential
Nilson’s hockey IQ and strong defensive game gave him a higher floor than most players in this draft, as he was emphasized as one of the smartest players in his class. McKeen’s hockey Felix Robbins compared him to Calgary Flames’ captain Mikael Backlund, who scored an impressive 1,066 games in the NHL and was widely known as one of the best two-way centers in the game. Honestly, I mortgaged the earthquake as his ceiling, and his father Marcus was his floor. That being said, he might surprise us all and be someone like Brayden Point, who also has clutch genes, huge speed, hockey IQ, and was drafted due to his lack of body shape. But we will have to wait and see.
Risk and Reward Analysis
Risk – 1/5, Reward – 5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 6/10, Defense – 9/10
Awards/Achievements
Nelson won gold medals this season with Djurgardens in both J18 and J20 Nationell and won bronze medals with Sweden in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last year. He is also a member of Sweden, losing 7-0 to Canada in the U18 World Championship gold medal match. He is committed to Michigan State next season.
Eric Nilson Statistics
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