It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! Earlier on, we released the TWC consolidated 2026 NHL Draft rankings. The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo.
Next up, ranking 24th on our consolidated rankings is William Hakansson. The Swedish defenceman combines size and smooth skating, making him a likely candidate to be selected within the middle of the first round.
Who is William Hakansson?
| Player | Position | Shoots | Height | Weight | Born | Nationality | 2026 Draft Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Hakansson | Defence | Left | 6’4″ / 194 cm | 207 lbs / 94 kg | October 8th, 2007 | Sweden | TWC rank #24 | CS rank #21 |
Hakansson developed through Sweden’s junior club system, progressing through academy levels before earning time in higher-level junior competition. He has been used in puck-moving roles, often tasked with facilitating breakouts and supporting offensive transitions. His development path reflects Sweden’s emphasis on skating, structure, and intelligent puck play. He is set to continue playing for Lulea HF for the 2026-27 season.
Hakansson’s on-ice production
| Year | Draft Rel. | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | P/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [2022-23] | D-2 | U16 Div. 1 | Djurgardens IF U16 | 25 | 16 | 28 | 44 | 1.76 |
| [2023-24] | D-1 | J18 Region | Lulea HF J18 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0.56 |
| J20 Nationell | Lulea HF J20 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0.19 | ||
| [2024-25] | D+0 | J20 Nationell | Lulea HF J20 | 42 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 0.52 |
| 2025-26 | Draft yr | SHL | Lulea HF | 22 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.09 |
Hakansson’s numbers won’t jump out at you, but numbers don’t tell the whole story. His impact goes beyond raw production, as Hakansson contributes to offence through clean exits, controlled entries, and keeping plays alive at the blue line. His ability to move pucks efficiently helps drive possession and offensive-zone time, even if it does not always show up directly on the scoresheet.
Hakansson’s strengths
Mobile and smooth skating
Hakansson’s skating stands out because it’s both fluid and controlled under pressure. He generates speed quickly through clean, efficient strides, but what really drives his effectiveness is how well he maintains balance and posture while moving. When defending the rush, he stays upright with his chest facing the play, allowing him to adjust without overcommitting. This lets him hold tighter gaps than most junior defenders, since he trusts his ability to pivot and recover if an attacker tries to change direction.
His edge work is also a major asset, especially in defensive-zone coverage and at the offensive blue line. He can shift laterally in small increments rather than making wide, exaggerated movements, which keeps him in better positioning and reduces the chance of getting caught out of place. At the line, he’s comfortable walking side-to-side to avoid pressure, dragging defenders with him just enough to open passing or shooting lanes.
Puck movement and offensive support
Hakansson’s puck movement is built on timing and efficiency rather than creativity. On retrievals, he scans early and makes decisions quickly, which allows him to beat forecheck pressure without rushing. He frequently uses quick shoulder checks before touching the puck, so his first play is already pre-determined. This leads to clean breakouts, whether through short passes to the middle, bump plays along the wall, or quick reversals to relieve pressure.
He is also capable of carrying the puck out when lanes are available. Rather than forcing passes into traffic, he will use his skating to transport the puck a few strides and open up better options. This helps his team maintain possession instead of defaulting to uncontrolled clears. His puck carries are usually direct and purposeful, aimed at advancing play rather than creating highlight-reel moments. In the offensive zone, Håkansson contributes by keeping plays alive and maintaining structure at the blue line. He does a good job holding pucks in under pressure, using small lateral movements to avoid shot blockers and forecheckers
Hakansson’s areas of improvement
Physical consistency and involvement
Hakansson’s physical play is not absent, but it lacks consistency and impact from shift to shift. There are sequences where he uses his frame effectively, steps into contact early, and separates opponents from pucks. However, those moments are not sustained. More often, he engages late or takes a more passive approach, relying on stick checks instead of committing his body to fully win the battle.
Along the boards, this shows up in how he approaches contact. He can arrive upright and reach with his stick rather than lowering his center of gravity and driving through the opponent. As a result, even when he gets there first, he doesn’t always secure possession cleanly. Opposing forwards are able to pin him or roll off contact, which can extend defensive-zone time and force his partner to compensate.
His involvement level can also fluctuate depending on the game pace. When plays are quick and in motion, he tends to stay engaged and active. When the game slows down into extended zone time or repeated cycles, his physical assertiveness can drop. He becomes more reactive, relying on positioning and stick work instead of actively initiating contact to break the cycle.
Hakansson’s comparables
| Scenario | NHL Comparable | Position | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best case | Mattias Ekholm | Defence | A composed, two-way defenseman who controls play through positioning, smart puck movement, and steady defensive reads. |
| Likely outcome | Marcus Pettersson | Defence | A low-event defender who relies on skating, positioning, and simple decisions to limit mistakes and move the puck efficiently. |
To me, a strong best-case comparable for Hakansson is Mattias Ekholm. This comparison comes from the idea of a defenseman who grows into a reliable top-four role through composure, positioning, and steady puck movement rather than high-end flash. Like Ekholm, Hakansson shows the ability to manage play calmly, make efficient breakout decisions, and contribute in multiple situations without forcing offence. Both players rely on reading the game well, keeping plays in front of them, and supporting transition in controlled ways. The limitation is that Ekholm developed into a much stronger, more physically assertive defender with better net-front control, while Hakansson still needs to build that level of strength and consistency.
A more likely comparable could be Marcus Pettersson. This fits because of the shared reliance on skating, positioning, and calm puck movement. Both players play a relatively low-event style, focusing on limiting mistakes and making clean, efficient decisions with the puck. Pettersson has carved out a role by being quietly effective in defensive situations and moving the puck safely, which is a very realistic path for Hakansson, assuming he develops his physical game more.
Fit with the Flames
| Organizational need addressed | Top 4 LHD |
| Realistic pick range | 22-32 |
| NHL timeline | 3 seasons (possibly AHL first |
| Flames fit verdict | Good fit |
While the Calgary Flames have plenty of depth regarding right-handed defencemen, that isn’t the same story for left-handed defenders. The Flames could surely use more left-handed defencemen in their prospect pool, and Hakansson fits the bill.
To me, Hakansson would be a good pick for the Flames in the late first to early second round. He would easily become one of the best LHD in the Flames’ system ahead of players such as Abram Wiebe and even Etienne Morin. As we know, the Flames love size, and Hakasson’s build and height make him an attractive option for bolstering blueline depth.
In addition, Hakansson is considered a relatively raw prospect whose game is already strong defensively but still has room to grow offensively. That allows Calgary to develop him into a reliable top-four option who can log minutes in structured roles while gradually adding more puck confidence. Overall, I wouldn’t mind if the Flames decided to take a chance on Hakansson, as I believe he can fill the Flames’ needs on the left side quite well.
Summary
Hakansson is a modern defence prospect whose game is built on skating, composure, and efficient puck movement. He offers a strong foundation that translates well to higher levels, giving him a relatively safe projection. The key question is whether he can add strength and offensive impact to elevate his ceiling beyond a steady, reliable role. If he does just that, then he may be a good pick to take a chance on for a team’s future blueline.