With their second pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs have selected Victor Johansson with the 120th pick in the fourth round.
Johansson is a Swedish, left-handed defenceman who played with Leksands IF in Sweden’s U20 junior league last season.
Victor Johansson player profile
Johansson isn’t a scorer, scoring just two goals and eight points in 34 games in the Swedish junior league last season, but is another defensive defenceman who Brad Treliving seems to love.
At 6’1″, and just 143 pounds, Johansson needs to grow a ton, but the Leafs clearly see room to grow and a solid defensive game in his future.
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Djurgårdens IF U16 | U16 Div.1 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| 2022–23 | Leksands IF J18 | J18 Nationell | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | Leksands IF J20 | J20 Nationell | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Analyzing the pick
Treliving clearly wants to add defensive prospects, and the trend continues with Johansson.
It’s the Leafs biggest need by far, and the front office sees that. Johansson seems like a massive project, he will need to put on a ton of weight and improve his offensive profile, but it’s a fine pick this late in the draft.
What’s next for Johansson
Johansson won’t see the NHL any time soon, and will need to fill out before hitting the pros. He should play next season with Leksands IF J20 again, attempting to develop his offensive game and add some weight.
