Some NHL experts are looking at Maple Leafs prospect Victor Johansson’s playing style, and not everyone is a fan of it yet.
One of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects has participated in scrimmage play during the annual rookie development camp, and Victor Johansson was recently assigned to the right side of a defensive pairing, prompting mixed reactions. He didn’t appear to be at ease playing on the right side, and analysts believe there may be some setbacks as he matures into the great the Leafs hope he will be.
A Pension Plan Puppets journalist took to social media X to give his thoughts on Victor Johansson’s first rookie preseason game of the year. His X handle is @brigstew86, and he praised Victor Johansson’s skating ability, but he was less impressed with his defensive awareness, which he says is related to his shift to the right side of the defensive partnering tandem.
Johansson is a fourth-round pick in this year’s NHL Entry list, and many scouting experts believe the Leafs chose him far too early, as he was supposed to fall much farther down the list. Many people would not have been surprised to see him selected all the way down in the seventh round, but analysts were taken aback when they learned that the Leafs had chosen him so early.
Victor Johansson is only 18 years old and attended the Maple Leafs’ Summer Development Camp in July, but many experts say he is far from NHL ready, and it will take a lot of effort from Leafs management to get him on the correct track. Victor Johansson has a really distinctive
Victor Johansson played 34 games in Sweden’s junior league for the Leksands IF Jr., scoring only two goals and eight points. He was on the ice for more goals for than against, which is a good indicator, and he finished with a plus/minus rating of +6.
