23 Options for the Leafs at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft: Freij + Sahlin Wallenius
The two have spent years as teamates both in Sweden for Vaxjo and internationally for the national team
The Toronto Maple Leafs pick 23rd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Over the last week or so, we've been profiling players the Toronto Maple Leafs should take with their pick.
The first round of the draft is June 28, with the second and subsequent rounds on Saturday.
Today's profile is on two players, both members of the same team, and the same position, Alfons Freij & Leo Sahlin Wallenius.
Introduction
Both Alfons Freij and Leo Sahlin Wallenius play their hockey in the Swedish U20 with the Vaxjo Lakers, both of the being key players on the squad.
Sahlin Wallenius, a 6'0, 186lbs left-handed defenseman, had 11 goals, 31 assists & 42 points in 43 games, as well as 3 points, all assists, for Sweden at the World Juniors U18's.
Freij, a 6'1, 196lbs left-handed defenseman, had 14 goals, 19 assists & 33 points in 40 games for Vaxjo J20 this past season, as well as 2 goals and 6 pointsin 7 games for the Swedish u18 team at the World Junior U18’s.
Sahlin Wallenius was named the best defenseman in the Swedish U20, the J20 Nationell. Freij was third in defensemen scoring at the U18's and second among all Swedes.
Freij will spend next season on loan in the Swedish men's second tier, HockeyAllsvenskan with Bjorkloven.
Both players are largely offensive minded defenders who move the puck and create passes.
Sahlin Wallenius has shown the most results so far, being a strong playmaker and creator, he was arguably his team's best player consistently. However, it's Freij who's dynamic skating and transition skills make him a potentially higher upside player.
Despite their stylistic similarities as average sized puck-moving defenders, their games have a lot of differences between them.
Scouting Report
Alfons Freij
Alfons Freij is one of the more exciting players in this draft class. There's a lot of what makes a successful modern defender in how Freij plays the game.
Strong off the rush, Freij is a good puck carrier who does well moving the puck in transition and creating separation space for himself. He's quick and mobile, which helps him quickly bring play up ice into the opposing end.
High level of creativity with the puck, Freij is very good when it comes to puckhandling and control. His fast skating is matched with his quick processing speed. Freij thinks fast, and plays fast. Freij has a very good shooting ability. Accurate shot ability and at times has done so at a high volume, but has a lack of goals to show for it.
Freij can control the tempo of the game at his best. Freij's control is so skillful that he can even fool opponents with his play. His strong vision makes him consistently able to spot opponents and quickly create dangerous chances, even while playing from afar.
His skating is one of the best in this draft. Already mobility has been mentioned but Freij has an incredibly quick first step and a strong motor both with and without the puck. His backwards skating is almost as quick as his forward skating.
On the defensive end, Freij is best in using his speed to shut down chances on the rush. He does show he can poke at the puck and even lay down a few hits, but he's not overly physical or dominating defensively.
He has decent enough size to use but doesn't play that pressing of a speed. That's not to say Freij isn't a player who isn't physical, he just doesn't always use his body as much as he could. Freij is one of the most naturally skilled players in this draft class.
At his very best, Freij could be a low-end 1st pairing offensive defenseman depending on his defensive growth. If he doesn't gain much in physicality, a probable projection is a 2nd pairing D with PP responsibilities. There's reason to believe in Freij as a potential gem and future top line defender in this draft class if all goes right.
Scouting Report
Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Sahlin Wallenius is a workhorse offensive defenseman with good maturity. Sahlin Wallenius plays a calm, methodical game. He's a steady player who does well controlling the puck, making smart plays and keeping play active.
Good playmaker who does well at creating chances from little. Sahlin Wallenius has good movement with his stick. Good shooting ability. Is able to get chances from deep, and even some goals. There's little moment that Sahlin Wallenius isn't being impactful without the puck.
Defensively mature player with strong vision and effort. Sahlin Wallenius does have some issues, most notably in puck control. He can be prone to one too many bad turnovers, some of which have been a bit costly.
Misplays of the puck have also been a problem at times. He’s a capable playmaker but has had some bad luck at moments. He's not the biggest player but he can be knocked down quite easily by opponents.
His benefit is that a lot of his question marks aren't unusual for his age, although they're important fixes to succeed at the pro level. He'll need to get stronger and more efficient with the puck. Potential for a 2nd pairing defender with PP2 and PK2 chances.
If you're reading through this, it's pretty obvious at this point i'm a much bigger fan of Freij than Sahlin Wallenius.
Freij is a top-15 propsect for me, while I see Sahlin Wallenius a second round pick, although many other who've watched the two have come away more positive on Sahlin Wallenius than Freij, I can see moments where it's realistic, but both are very interesting players.
Toronto Maple Leafs Likeliness
I see the Toronto Maple Leafs leaning more towards Freij than Sahlin Wallenius, but i'm not sure about whether either of them go. Both could be taken in the first round, while I can also see both slip.
I don't hate Freij at 23, I'm not sold that it's what the Maple Leafs are gonna do in this draft, only because I think if you look at their draft history with defenseman there's a big emphasis on size and neither are really the biggest guy, they don't have that tall, hard-pressing game they've gone for when taking D in previous years.
I could see either of them potentially being players they like for their offense and puck skills, I'm not feeling the sense either are the direction they go in, but I'd be a big fan of Toronto selectin Frei, alright with Sahlin Wallenius.
I would say Freij would be Toronto's best defensive prospect in my opinion if he was taken, and Sahlin Wallenius would probably be #2 behind Niemela.
They need RHD more but I wouldn't assume Toronto is closed when it comes to potentially taking a leftie, I expect they'll look into options for the best asset, and maybe i'ts one of them.
I wonder if Freij is gone a bit before Toronto. I can see Los Angeles or Nashville at 21 and 22 respectively potentially take a look there.
I think with Freij there's a bit of similarity to Tanner Moldenyk last draft who the Predators took, and has done well developing since, and Freij is more developed. LA has a strong prospect pool, they can probably go anywhere, I think they'll go BPA, but I can see them liking Freij.
Although I mentioned Moldenyk, I think the player both players resemble more so from last draft is a fellow Swede in Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Detroit's 2023 first rounder.
For Toronto, I think they may want to focus on the right side, and a bigger option, but i'll say, if I was in that draft room, my review of Alfons Freij would be glowing, and I would have good things to say on Sahlin Wallenius.
I do feel a bit bad admittedly combining the two because I'm admittedly higher on Freij than Sahlin Wallenius, but I think they're both great prospects and scouts much better at it than me are a lot more positive on Sahlin Wallenius. Neither are picks to be hurt by.
QUOTES/FILM
Leo Sahlin Wallenius
"Wallenius is smart enough to be used in all situations. He’s the kind of defender who can eat heavy minutes with his approach to the game." - Jason Bukala/Sportsnet
"Sahlin Wallenius is dangerous offensively because of his smooth skating and creativity in transition. He also has quick feet and hands, capable of changing directions at will and beating opponents one-on-one. Unfortunately, he doesn’t always use this elite skillset to the best of his ability, leaving scouts wanting more at times, thus the projection of a late first-round or mid-second-round selection." - Matthew Zator/The Hockey Writers
"The offensive instincts are there, and he’s been able to rip apart opponents at the U-20 level." - Steven Ellis /Daily Faceoff
He’s a transition defender who is among the best pure skaters and passers in the class, and one of the safest players in the offensive zone. The downside is that he can play like a pylon in his own end… Worth the risk? - Seth Ditchfield/DobberProspects
Alfons Freij
"A remarkably mobile blueliner with skating ability that jumps out at you, Freij has some physical tools that are enticing." - Chris Peters/FloHockey
"With just some refinement, the 6-foot-1 defenseman could really take the next step in his development. His numbers have been great internationally and he’s one of the best offensive defensemen in the Swedish U-20 league." - Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff
manual
"Freij quarterbacks the power play and produces offence. His detail defensively ranges at times, but he has time on his side to work on being more consistent in his zone." - Jason Bukala/Sportsnet