Sahlin Wallenius had a great season last year. He played in three professional leagues (SHL, Allsvenskan, and Liiga) and in each, he produced as a defenseman. When he played in the junior league, he proved himself to be more gifted than the competition, scoring 14 points in eight games. His play this year was rewarded with an entry-level contract from the San Jose Sharks. While Sharks fans would hope to see the shifty, smooth-skating Swede in North America next year, Sahlin Wallenius will be on loan in the SHL. Watch for a big year from Sahlin Wallenius as he is primed for a breakout year in the SHL.

Sahlin Wallenius was drafted 53rd overall to the San Jose Sharks.

Sahlin Wallenius is a skilled and mobile offensive defenseman who has made his mark this season by getting a ton of pucks toward high-danger areas. He’s fairly creative in the offensive zone and has flashed impressive playmaking. While that facet of his game is routinely outshone by his teammate Alfons Freij, it remains a key strength in his game. His feet are pacier than his mental processing at this stage, which makes inconsistent execution a hallmark of his game. In flashes, he anticipates play well, but small miscues in timing are quite common for him in the DZ. That said, his high stride rate and impressive agility allow him to recover from mistakes very quickly, which he is typically hasty to do. He’s learning to delay with the puck on his stick and let play develop when he has some space in dangerous areas, which is a promising progression on the offensive side of the puck. The defensive side of the game still needs more work as it is at times marred by hesitation and anxiety. He’s trying to get more involved physically to diversify his defensive impact, but it doesn’t project as an NHL strength yet. The upside is quite intriguing, especially offensively and as a carrier in transition, but the risk makes him a mid 2nd round valuation in our eyes.