With the 53rd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks grabbed defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius, adding to the defensive depth the Sharks desperately needed in the prospect pool. Sahlin Wallenius is another good value pick for the Sharks. Some boards had him going in the late first round, while others had him in the early second round. At 53, it was a good time to get the 6-foot-0, 180-pound left-shooting defenseman.
Expect to get a good defenseman who is capable of distributing the puck. Sahlin Wallenius played for Sweden in the U18 World Junior Championship, where he had three points (all assists) in seven games.
He will be slower to develop than top picks in the draft, but he still shows great promise.
What scouts are saying about Sahlin Wallenius
Elite Prospects has this to say about the defenseman in its annual draft guide.
“Leo Sahlin Wallenius is a sound puck distributor and in-zone defender. His defensive skating allows him to match speed in space with ease, contain opponents, and get stops along the wall,” wrote Elite Prospects. “Constant scanning allows him to disrupt potential scoring plays as they develop. With the puck, Sahlin Wallenius can easily avoid forechecking pressure and generate exits and entries at pace.”
Our friends at Habs Eyes on the Prize aren’t as hot on him.
“Sahlin Wallenius is bland, to be honest. He does everything good, but nothing great. He can be deceptive at the blue line, but sometimes he defers. He has a decent shot, but he doesn’t use it enough. And as with all youngsters, he needs to build up muscle to be more stable in the defensive zone,” wrote Patrik Bexell. “His hockey IQ isn’t bad, but it isn’t up there with the best either. For a puck-moving defenceman, I hold this as something negative because he will have to think the game at a quicker pace to maximize his transition game.”
