F Filip Ekberg - Altuma, Sweden J18 (2025 Draft)

[Hinterland]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849616416397238719

Yet another goal from his office. Has 9 points in 10 games for the 67's.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Is he going to get drafted as a small guy under 1PPG?

 

[Hinterland]

Is he going to get drafted as a small guy under 1PPG?

I'd be shocked if he's below ppg for much longer this season. He's heating up already but he's got another gear...or two. At least. He might not go in the 1st round because he's small and not the best skater but in my view he should go in the 1st. You'll never get more skill after round 1. This kid is both a natural goal scorer and playmaker. His hands are incredible and his vision is elite.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I'd be shocked if he's below ppg for much longer this season. He's heating up already but he's got another gear...or two. At least. He might not go in the 1st round because he's small and not the best skater but in my view he should go in the 1st. You'll never get more skill after round 1. This kid is both a natural goal scorer and playmaker. His hands are incredible and his vision is elite.

Where does your interest in Ekberg come from? Maybe you think he is Swiss? Many north Americans confuse Sweden and Switzerland

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

12 points in 18 games. Can't be an early rounder anymore at this point, no?

 

[Garl]

Probably not

12 points in 18 games. Can't be an early rounder anymore at this point, no?

Probably not, move to OHL did more harm to his draft ranking than good. He still has the talent and skills, but hard to show them off on a fourth line

 

[Gazewithin]

12 points in 18 games. Can't be an early rounder anymore at this point, no?

Probably a middlerounder, given his still decent potential. I have not watched any of his games in the OHL, but what I'm hearing(and seeing on the stats sheet) certainly is not great. But moving to Canada was always an odd move in my opinion. The kid stays on a program in Sweden that can't even keep the top non-prospects, skipping every top program and junior team in Sweden, and then suddenly, after having struggled to improve for an entire season, moves to another continent with all the things that come with it. Keep in mind that despite his weaknesses at the time, Ekberg was seen on average as the most talented 07 in Sweden as late as 18 months ago. Every team in the country would have moved heaven and earth for him. Based on all this and the fact that he ha made close to 0(!) improvements since then, I can't think of it as anything if not brutal mismanagement from him and his camp. Off course prospects can stagnate, off course prospects can get into bad team situations and get f***ed over, and not get the best situation to improve in. But to make all these bizzare decisions and(from the outside, and based on the people I have talked to about this) the lack of focus in terms of improving and covering weaknesses in his game, it's a special kind of miss.

 

[Hinterland]

Probably a middlerounder, given his still decent potential. I have not watched any of his games in the OHL, but what I'm hearing(and seeing on the stats sheet) certainly is not great. But moving to Canada was always an odd move in my opinion. The kid stays on a program in Sweden that can't even keep the top non-prospects, skipping every top program and junior team in Sweden, and then suddenly, after having struggled to improve for an entire season, moves to another continent with all the things that come with it. Keep in mind that despite his weaknesses at the time, Ekberg was seen on average as the most talented 07 in Sweden as late as 18 months ago. Every team in the country would have moved heaven and earth for him. Based on all this and the fact that he ha made close to 0(!) improvements since then, I can't think of it as anything if not brutal mismanagement from him and his camp. Off course prospects can stagnate, off course prospects can get into bad team situations and get f***ed over, and not get the best situation to improve in. But to make all these bizzare decisions and(from the outside, and based on the people I have talked to about this) the lack of focus in terms of improving and covering weaknesses in his game, it's a special kind of miss.

You're overanalyzing this.

Ekberg's 12 points are actually respectable if you take into account his very limited icetime.

Ekberg has been playing well pretty much all season long.

The problem is that Dave Cameron has been rolling pretty much two forward lines only this season but none of his top forward prospects have been part of those lines on a regular basis. Ekberg, Nicolas Whitehead, Chase Yanni hardly ever played those big minutes, Nathan Amidovski never got a chance.

I don't know what Cameron is trying to achieve but the other forward prospects are in the same boat as Ekberg. There's nothing wrong with Ekberg except his usage. If he's on the topline centering Luca Pinelli then the both of them are north of 30 points as we speak. Unfortunately, the CHL leagues aren't just about talent but also about opportunity. It's tough to impress and put up big numbers if you're stuck playing a handful of shifts on the 4th line with poor or inexperienced players all season long.

I agree the move so far hasn't helped his draft chances though. Definitely not a good look for Cameron and the 67's.

 

[Gazewithin]

You're overanalyzing this.

Ekberg's 12 points are actually respectable if you take into account his very limited icetime.

Ekberg has been playing well pretty much all season long.

The problem is that Dave Cameron has been rolling pretty much two forward lines only this season but none of his top forward prospects have been part of those lines on a regular basis. Ekberg, Nicolas Whitehead, Chase Yanni hardly ever played those big minutes, Nathan Amidovski never got a chance.

I don't know what Cameron is trying to achieve but the other forward prospects are in the same boat as Ekberg. There's nothing wrong with Ekberg except his usage. If he's on the topline centering Luca Pinelli then the both of them are north of 30 points as we speak. Unfortunately, the CHL leagues aren't just about talent but also about opportunity. It's tough to impress and put up big numbers if you're stuck playing a handful of shifts on the 4th line with poor or inexperienced players all season long.

I agree the move so far hasn't helped his draft chances though. Definitely not a good look for Cameron and the 67's.

Everything I talked about applies to his time in Sweden. This is not a reaction to specifically his point totals in the OHL. I can totally believe he is being misused. Does seem very excessive to claim so confidently that he would be at 30+ points with the right usage, given that there seems to be 9 such players right now.
But, even if he is doing well with his limited time, I don't think that's promising at all. He has played junior hockey at the highest level/age group for what will soon be about 2 years.

Other swedes has not only caught up, but left him hanging far behind. And to me, even the ones that are only caught up are way more interesting. At least they are improving, and if Ekbergs "base talent" was excessive enough to compensate for all of that, it would noticed and talked about a lot more.

Other people who have watched Ekberg the last 3 years or so are welcome to disagree, but I don't think any inspiring improvement has happened overall from like midlate 22-23 season to even this summer.

I also think the usage you are describing only adds to my "overanalyzation". Is he going to get drafted high because his usage is bad? Furthermore, the actually important part I described was his development. Thats going to get better how exactly? It didn't go great in a place where he was handed all the opportunity and then some, but it's going to get better in a situation where he apparently he doesn't even get to play properly despite there being nothing wrong with his play(in your words)?

There is off course a lot more time, and he could switch things up(he should absolutely be able to tear junior defences apart at least) but it's no longer a favourable bet in my eyes. Would make me very happy though!

 

[Hinterland]

Everything I talked about applies to his time in Sweden. This is not a reaction to specifically his point totals in the OHL. I can totally believe he is being misused. Does seem very excessive to claim so confidently that he would be at 30+ points with the right usage, given that there seems to be 9 such players right now.
But, even if he is doing well with his limited time, I don't think that's promising at all. He has played junior hockey at the highest level/age group for what will soon be about 2 years.

Other swedes has not only caught up, but left him hanging far behind. And to me, even the ones that are only caught up are way more interesting. At least they are improving, and if Ekbergs "base talent" was excessive enough to compensate for all of that, it would noticed and talked about a lot more.

Other people who have watched Ekberg the last 3 years or so are welcome to disagree, but I don't think any inspiring improvement has happened overall from like midlate 22-23 season to even this summer.

I also think the usage you are describing only adds to my "overanalyzation". Is he going to get drafted high because his usage is bad? Furthermore, the actually important part I described was his development. Thats going to get better how exactly? It didn't go great in a place where he was handed all the opportunity and then some, but it's going to get better in a situation where he apparently he doesn't even get to play properly despite there being nothing wrong with his play(in your words)?

There is off course a lot more time, and he could switch things up(he should absolutely be able to tear junior defences apart at least) but it's no longer a favourable bet in my eyes. Would make me very happy though!

Just because he's not playing much and therefore not putting up the points that doesn't mean he's not improving, not getting better.

I think there's nothing wrong with Ekberg except how he's used by Cameron. I like his development curve. For example, I used to really dislike his skating. He used to be very slow for a small kid and his technique was ugly as well. It does look quite good right now. He became a pretty good skater and you can tell he worked on both technique and explosiveness. Another area where he got better a lot is finish. He has a rocket of a shot and can really pick corners. His one timers are particularly impressive. Takes quite a bit of skill, hand eye coordination and most certainly a shitload of tireless practice hours to hit them like that. I used to see Ekberg as mostly a playmaker, play driver with soft hands and elite vision but he clearly added other weapons to his toolbox and worked hard to eliminate weaknesses.

But again. Despite that I agree he's gonna be one of the fallers of the season if he doesn't eventually get a bigger role.

Luca Pinelli is one of the most offensively gifted players in the entire CHL. His defensive and physical contributions may be questionable so nobody really knows why he's Captain of the 67's but he did put up 26 points centered by a goal scoring Winger with little to no creativity or faceoff skills. Kooper Foster is a fantastic player but really not a Center. Centered by an elite playmaker like Ekberg, Pinelli would dominate the league, at least offensively.

 

[Gazewithin]

Just because he's not playing much and therefore not putting up the points that doesn't mean he's not improving, not getting better.

I would agree to an extent, especially regarding the points part. However, neither of us think getting less ice time is better for his development. For a player who has only been walking when others have been running for a while now, this just sounds like another chapter.

But:

I think there's nothing wrong with Ekberg except how he's used by Cameron. I like his development curve.

If you would go this far we just have to agree to disagree, because we are in different galaxies on this topic then.

Luca Pinelli is one of the most offensively gifted players in the entire CHL. His defensive and physical contributions may be questionable so nobody really knows why he's Captain of the 67's but he did put up 26 points centered by a goal scoring Winger with little to no creativity or faceoff skills.

I mean, I'll believe you. I'm don't have any strong takes or interest in Pinelli. Maybe he would push Ekberg to such that amount of points(would also not be a fair representation of his development, to be fair). To me it just seems very bold to assert something like that so as certainly as you did(regarding Ekberg, not this Pinelli guy). But regardless, it would most likely be better for his develpment to play more, and with a player like that, instead of the current situation. Thats completely fair.

 

[Hinterland]

I would agree to an extent, especially regarding the points part. However, neither of us think getting less ice time is better for his development. For a player who has only been walking when others have been running for a while now, this just sounds like another chapter.

But:

If you would go this far we just have to agree to disagree, because we are in different galaxies on this topic then.


I mean, I'll believe you. I'm don't have any strong takes or interest in Pinelli. Maybe he would push Ekberg to such that amount of points(would also not be a fair representation of his development, to be fair). To me it just seems very bold to assert something like that so as certainly as you did(regarding Ekberg, not this Pinelli guy). But regardless, it would most likely be better for his develpment to play more, and with a player like that, instead of the current situation. Thats completely fair.

Well, had he centered Pinelli all season long that would probably have doubled his ice time as well. While many of his points came on the PP where he's on the top unit, I don't think it's crazy to assume that centering Pinelli and 2x even strength ice time would led to 2x points production as well.

I understand that there would be growing pains for such a duo and they'd need a gritty 3rd player on their line with the ability to win the physical battles and dig out pucks for them. So I don't know if the 67's would have more points with Ekberg as 1C. They certainly would have scored more goals though and would be more fun to watch.

Also, as I explained already...they have to start developing Whitehead, Ekberg and Amidovski either way...ideally in big roles and at Center. Foster as 1C is a plan that sucks and Chris Barlas shouldn't be playing Center either. Whether they wanna win or tank...they have to start playing the kids.

 

[Gazewithin]

Well, had he centered Pinelli all season long that would probaly have doubled his ice time as well. While many of his points came on the PP where he's on the top unit, I don't think it's crazy to assume that centering Pinelli and 2x even strength ice time would lead to 2x points production as well.

I understand that there would be growing pains for such a duo and they'd need a gritty 3rd player on their line with the ability to win the physical battles and dig out pucks for them. So I don't know if the 67's would have more points with Ekberg as 1C. They certainly would have scored more goals though and would be more fun to watch.

Also, as I explained already...they have to start developing Whitehead, Ekberg and Amidovski either way...ideally in big roles and at Center. Foster as 1C is a plan that sucks and Chris Barlas shouldn't be playing Center either. Whether they wanna win or tank...they have to start playing the kids.

As a non-67s follower, I'll take your word for it. We'll see.

 

[Hinterland]

Well, had he centered Pinelli all season long that would probably have doubled his ice time as well. While many of his points came on the PP where he's on the top unit, I don't think it's crazy to assume that centering Pinelli and 2x even strength ice time would led to 2x points production as well.

I understand that there would be growing pains for such a duo and they'd need a gritty 3rd player on their line with the ability to win the physical battles and dig out pucks for them. So I don't know if the 67's would have more points with Ekberg as 1C. They certainly would have scored more goals though and would be more fun to watch.

Also, as I explained already...they have to start developing Whitehead, Ekberg and Amidovski either way...ideally in big roles and at Center. Foster as 1C is a plan that sucks and Chris Barlas shouldn't be playing Center either. Whether they wanna win or tank...they have to start playing the kids.

The three kids were put together for the game in Windsor last night and combined for a goal despite very limited playing time.




I also love how Ekberg just keeps on scoring the exact same PP-goal over and over again

 

[hockeyprospects9]

At this point where could Ekberg be selected?

 

[Hinterland]

At this point where could Ekberg be selected?

That's a tough one to predict currently. He has 1st round upside but he's small and the numbers don't look good. Could be anything from 1st round to no draft depending on how NHL teams evaluate this.

From where I stand this kid has a ton of upside. Unfortunately didn't get a lot of playing time early, was mostly playing with green kids or plugs on the 4th line. His talent has been on display on the PP though. He scored the exact same goal several times so it's definitely skill and not luck.

Unfortunately he got hurt just when he was starting to heat up and get more opportunities 5vs5. I feel like this injury slowed him down quite a bit and his scoring cooled down significantly. He still does have a larger role though, getting more ice time with better players. Unfortunately not at Center though. I think playing down the middle would help him a lot.

There's really a lot of ways to look at this. You can see the small kid playing wing who doesn't score a lot of points or you can see the highly skilled kid capable of so much more if healthy and given a chance to play big minutes at Center. Of course you can see anything in between as well.

Personally I fully recognize that he maybe hasn't quite arrived on NA ice and should have done more 5vs5 despite playing mostly wing and limited minutes. At the same time he's also a big reason why the 67's have 2nd best PP in the OHL despite being one of the weaker teams this season. I also really like his two way qualities. He has to get tougher and stronger but his overall game against the puck is still very good. His positioning is excellent and he has an active stick as well.

 

[Hinterland]

I just looked it up. Ekberg scored 12 of 19 points and 5 of 8 goals on the PP. 12 PPP's in 27 games and I think his 5 PPG's are probably all one timers from the half wall. Pretty crazy. At least it feels like he scored the exact same goal five times

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

3rd round to undrafted. Probably 5-7.