Vancouver Canucks Sign Nils Hoglander To Entry Level Contract

Nils Hoglander Signs With Vancouver

The 19-year old Swedish sensation was originally selected in the second round (40th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Canucks. Hoglander appeared in 41 games for Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League this season. He recorded 16 points (nine goals and seven assists) to go along with 39 penalty minutes. In two seasons with BK, Hoglander accumulating 30 points (16 goals and 14 assists) in 91 games.

The young Swede made a name for himself on the international stage helping Sweden win a bronze medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships. On a stacked team that had Alexander Holtz and Lucas Raymond, Hoglander finished third in scoring. He had 11 points (five goals and six assists) in seven games including some highlight-reel goals.

What Hoglander Brings To The Table

Ben Kerr described Hoglander ahead of the 2019 NHL draft saying, “Undersized at just five-foot-nine, Hoglander makes up for it with outstanding skating ability. He is lightning quick, with outstanding speed and acceleration. This allows him to get behind the defence and away for breakaways. Off the rush, Hoglander can take a defender wide and cut to the net. He also has excellent agility and edgework. He can stickhandle and make plays at high speed, making him a deadly threat off the rush. His speed forces defenders to back off, which opens up passing and shooting lanes. Hoglander can take advantage of this with a quick wrist shot and excellent release. He gets in quickly on the forecheck, pressuring defenders into mistakes and creating turnovers. If Hoglander reaches his ceiling, he could become a top-six winger in the NHL.” The Full Scouting Report can be found here.

Bright Future

This is a great signing for the Canucks. They are bringing in Hoglander at the right time. Their young core is meshing well together. While they may be ahead of schedule with their rebuild, adding a dynamic player like Hoglander just gives them another weapon upfront. Just look at the players he will be joining. With players like Elias Petterson, Quinn Hughes, Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, and more, Hoglander could easily fit right into the top six for the Canucks. Hoglander is the real deal and it will be interesting to see what the Canucks do with him. But you have to think he slides right into the lineup.