NHL Draft Prospect Roundup: Eiserman, Sahlin Wallenius shine at Five Nations tournament

Cole Eiserman (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

I recently attended the U-18 Five Nations tournament in Plymouth, Michigan, with some talented 2024 NHL Draft prospects showing off to representatives of all 32 teams.

And I’ll be honest: I was a bit disappointed. The talent pool is solid for this year’s draft, but we were missing a ton of quality prospects for teams like Finland (Konsta Helenius, Emil Hemming), Czechia (Tomas Galvas) and Switzerland (Leon Muggli). But we did get to see quality 2025 prospects, including Anton Frondell and Adam Benak – both of whom should go early next year.

Regardless, it was worth the trip. I got lots of intel into some prospects for 2024 and had some good chats with some of the players, too. That’ll all be released in due time, but let’s take a look at some of the best performers that I got to see in person, with the tournament closing on Saturday at USA Hockey Arena:

Teddy Stiga, LW (USA)

Stiga was the top scorer in my two days in Michigan, starting things off with a four-point effort against Switzerland before adding another two against Finland. His line with Brodie Ziemer and Kamil Bednarik was flying, but it was Stiga – the energetic bulldog that fights for every opportunity – who excited me the most. He’s been very good recently, so much so that I’ve liked him the most of any 2024 eligible on the USNTDP for a while now. Some scouts think he’ll go early in the second round and I’m not doubting that right now.

Cole Hutson, D (USA)

For a while, I was starting to sour on Hutson, who just made too many defensive miscues for my liking. And he made some again this week, too. But I think what really stood out was his compete level. When he made a mistake, I feel like he put more of an effort in to make up for it, and that’s something he has really improved in recent months. But with the puck, few defenseman can move like Hutson can. The skating, the accuracy of the passes, the deceptiveness. I’m really starting to think he’ll be a bit better overall than his brother, whom I had as a top-10 prospect in 2022. I’m not ready to commit to that just yet, but I just think Cole has a lot going for him right now. We’ll see.

Cole Eiserman, LW (USA)

It wasn’t the shot that got me interested – it was the physicality. We know he can shoot, but it’s that competitive level that I want to keep seeing more of. Eiserman’s draft stock has fallen in the eyes of many in recent weeks, and pairing him up with 2025 draft star James Hagens and high-end passer Max Plante allowed him to really thrive. But especially in the game against Finland, I felt Eiserman was more physically engaged than I’m used to seeing. It’s like he’s trying to prove himself again.

Daniel Nieminen, D (Finland)

Nieminen was one of my favorite players in those first two games. He made so many smart plays at both ends, generating scoring chances and having the speed to get back and break up a play. Opponents seem to struggle to read his passes like they do with Hutson – he just found the right spot at the right time. I don’t remember noticing him like this at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, but I know a bunch of scouts are intrigued by his play.

Joonas Saarelainen, LW (Finland)

At 5-foot-9, Saarelainen is small, but it doesn’t seem to slow him down. He’s strong for his size, wins faceoffs, battles hard and moves well. He was Finland’s best forward, especially in the first game when he scored twice and nearly had another. He’s got the energy to make up for his more petit frame, at least at the U-20 Finnish level. Will it translate? I don’t know but I feel like he won’t have an issue generating points with Finland’s junior team moving forward.

Aatos Koivu, C (Finland)

One of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2024 NHL Draft, Koivu turned heads with an excellent two-point performance against Sweden. He was quieter against the Americans, but he built upon the recent momentum that has put him in the second-round territory. The son of long-time Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, Aatos has an excellent shot and can play just about any role asked of him. Given his lack of experience with the Finns, it’s notable that he served as the No. 1 center – and I thought he looked the part.

Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D (Sweden)

At a tournament like this, good defense is hard to come by. But I thought LSW – who had four points in his first two games – played a strong game at both ends. He made some questionable passes in his own zone, especially early against Finland, but he got better the more comfortable he was. Opinions are mixed for Sahlin Wallenius – some say first-rounder, and some question if he’s even a second-rounder. Myself? There’s enough here for him to be a mobile, bottom-four defenseman with offensive upside and a penchant for physical play.

Alexander Zetterberg, LW (Sweden)

At 5-foot-7, Zetterberg is tiny – he can’t escape that. But from a speed and skill perspective, few wingers impressed me as much as Zetterberg in my first live viewings of him. I’ve been high on him with the puck ever since I first saw him, and the offense has followed him everywhere internationally. In open space – especially on the power play – Zetterberg is so dangerous. But while some small players can make up for the lack of size by pushing guys around, Zetterberg likes to shy away from contact, which doesn’t help. He’s a first-round talent, but he needs to grow some muscle.

Lucas Pettersson, C (Sweden)

Pettersson is the highest-rated Swedish player on the NHL Central Scouting’s most recent list, and this was my first time watching him in person. While Zetterberg and Melvin Fernstrom were the more flashy players on Sweden’s top line, Pettersson kept things grounded. He was excellent in the faceoff dot and played more of a shutdown role. He’s aggressive, can set teammates up and dazzle when he needs to. Pettersson is trending toward first-round territory because scouts love how many things he does well.

Jack Berglund, C (Sweden)

There’s definitely an NHL future for Berglund. He’s got a 6-foot-3 frame, is big at 209 pounds and can muscle his way past anyone. He scored a natural hat-trick to lead the Swedes to a comeback win over Finland on Tuesday and then helped set up the 1-0 goal over the Czechs. Berglund was Sweden’s fourth-line center, but he won many matchups due to his sheer force.

Oskar Lisler, LW (Czechia)

Lisler has a good frame at 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, and it allows him to win 1-on-1 battles quite easily. He also has an excellent release, something he showed against Sweden. While the best Czech players aren’t eligible until 2025 and 2026, I thought Lisler did a good job of getting in the way, backchecking hard, and generating chances – mostly on the power play, though.

Discover Betano.ca – a premium Sports Betting and Online Casino experience. Offering numerous unique and dynamic betting options along with diverse digital and live casino games, Betano is where The Game Starts Now. 19+. Please play responsibly.