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Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Victor Johansson
Late-round draft picks in any professional sports league often have fans doing Google searches to learn about who their team just acquired.
But when the Toronto Maple Leafs used their fourth-round pick (120th overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to select Swedish defenseman Victor Johansson, even the most ardent of draft followers were left scratching their heads and wondering, “Who is this guy?”
Johansson was certainly not a flashy pick, nor was he a junior-level skater with skills of the “too good to pass up” variety. Heck, Johansson wasn’t even included among the 156 international skaters ranked by NHL Central Scouting in the months leading up to the draft, and the numbers that could be found did very little to suggest he had a future in the NHL.
Having turned 18 just a few months prior to the draft, Johansson packed only 143 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. And unlike most draftees from his native country, Johansson had not played a single shift in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the highest level of professional ice hockey in Sweden, instead honing his craft in junior leagues as a defensive-minded member of the Leksands Idrottsförening system.
But the scouts for the Maple Leafs saw something special in Johansson: a left-shot defenseman with a uniquely high hockey IQ and equally strong competitive nature, boasting excellent puck skills, mobility, and a growth frame just waiting to be filled out. And just over a year later, Johansson is quietly trending toward becoming one of Toronto’s most intriguing blue-line prospects — and perhaps the next offensive defenseman to carry the mantle once Morgan Rielly’s prime begins to wind down.
Victor Johansson Rising Quickly From 4th-Round Pick to Top Defensive Prospect
Still weighing just 165 pounds, Johansson remains underbuilt by NHL standards, but he added noticeable strength over the past season. His offensive production exploded in the 2024–25 season with Leksands IF’s J20 team, finishing with 39 points (7 goals, 32 assists) in 47 games, more than all of his previous seasons combined. That wasn’t just better—it was bold and creative.
According to scouts and performance reports, he began to activate aggressively, carrying the puck end-to-end, threading stretch passes, and stepping into the rush with the confidence of an NHL-caliber puck-mover. He also earned a brief five-game cameo in the SHL, and while his ice-time was minimal and he didn’t register points, even that small exposure at age 18 was notable, and a sign that Leksands IF views him as one of its top developmental priorities.
Still, what distinguishes Johansson from many late-round picks is the progression curve. Observers noted a transformation: he went from a defensive-only prospect to a two-way catalyst who can quarterback a power play while also emerging as a physical, defensively responsible player. He piled up 113 penalty minutes in junior play — proof he was engaged physically — and drew rave reviews for his positional play and calmness under pressure.
At the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase, Johansson dazzled, with three points in five games, including highlight-reel rushes and confident breakouts that left scouts saying, “I didn’t see that coming.” Chris Peters, analyst for FloHockey and host of The Prospects Podcast, highlighted Johansson among his “standout performers:”
“Perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of this tournament, Johansson is 20 pounds heavier and a lot stronger than he was when Toronto picked him in the fourth round in 2024. On top of that, his offensive game has really come along, with solid hands and an ability to get pucks through. He has deft touch on the puck, making good passes and escaping pressure. Johansson also had several big hits, showing his willingness and eagerness to use his improved strength to make opposing forwards uncomfortable. He said he is motivated to not just be a good defenseman, but to be the best. There’s still a long way to go there, but how can you not like that motivation?”
Victor Johansson Brings High Hockey IQ, Nasty Competitive Streak to Maple Leafs
Sure, Johansson is still a few years away from taking the ice at Scotiabank Arena. Weight remains a concern, and like any prospect playing mostly at the junior level, his instincts must continue to sharpen. A handful of SHL shifts don’t make him NHL-ready.
But what’s rare isn’t just the toolset — it’s the trajectory. Johansson didn’t enter his draft year as an offensive threat — by most accounts, he was unranked — and yet in a single development cycle, he’s become one of Sweden’s faster-rising blue-liners of his age group.
Toronto isn’t expecting him to replace Rielly next season. What Johansson offers is a vision of the future, a player who brings puck skills, skating, competitiveness, and the versatility to play special teams.
Johansson still needs seasoning, but if his upward curve continues, within a few seasons Leafs fans might look back and say: “Remember when we didn’t know who Victor Johansson was?” Soon enough, they won’t be asking.
Dave Benson is a veteran writer with over three decades of journalism experience covering sports primarily in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent several years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson
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