Will Alex Zetterberg’s unquestioned skill trump size at 2024 NHL Draft?

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

Something was missing when Sweden took the ice for their semifinal game against Canada at the 2024 U-18 World Championship.

Their blueline was intact. Their goaltending had been solid the whole way. They had a power play that could do some damage.

But they didn’t have their finisher. Alex Zetterberg was sitting two rows away from the media tribune, watching as his team found themselves down 5-1 before the game was even half over.

Sweden battled back to make it 5-4, but they ultimately fell short of qualifying for the championship game for the third straight year. It was disappointing, but to anyone who followed the Swedes this year, they knew how offensively limited they would be if one of their stars was out of the lineup. Unfortunately, it was their best producer, Zetterberg, who was kept out of the playoff round due to a concussion, and you could see how less effective they were as a result.

Not only was Zetterberg Sweden’s most dangerous scoring threat with 20 goals and 37 points in 24 games with the U-18 team this year, but he was the best in the age group, period. He kicked off the U-18s with a three-point effort against Canada before nabbing assists against Kazakhstan and Czechia. If it wasn’t for his concussion in the game against Switzerland, the Swedes might have found themselves with something a bit more desirable than the bronze they ended up with.

But regardless, it was a successful season for the 2024 NHL Draft prospect. Zetterberg had 21 goals and 58 points in 45 games with Orebro’s U-20 team, good for third in league scoring among U-18 players. Zetterberg’s ability to rip shots in open space and beat opponents with his quick hands and creativity made him such an intriguing player in a draft that doesn’t have a ton of high-end Swedish talent.

Also, a side note: he’s a very distant relative of Henrik Zetterberg. They’ve gotten to know each other a little bit, and even lived in the same building. But that’s about it.

So what’s the deal? Why aren’t more people talking about him? He clearly has the ability to dominate with the puck. Unfortunately for Alex, it comes down to one thing: size.

At 5-foot-8 and about 160 pounds, Zetterberg has had to contend with that his whole career. The numbers have always been impressive, but doing that against teenagers is one thing. To this day, he hasn’t tasted pro hockey or the challenges associated with that.

But that’s also partly by design. He’s set to join Boston University for 2024-25 alongside fellow Swede Sascha Boumedienne, a top defenseman for the 2025 NHL Draft. One big advantage of playing in the NCAA is the emphasis on spending time in the weight room, but also playing against older, stronger competition without getting your ice time limited by a pro team prioritizing winning over development with their veteran stars.

There aren’t many Swedish players in college hockey, but we saw Vancouver Canucks prospect Tom Willander make the move to BU last year. The ice time and added responsibilities proved to be fruitful for the defender while also forcing him to deal with the puck quicker and play a more physical game on North American ice. Zetterberg, a center, will benefit in a similar way.

For a smaller player, Zetterberg has to find ways to make himself indispensable. He can score, sure, but so can many others who can play a better two-way game, or be more prominent on the size front. He’s an excellent puckhandler who can move quickly and beat players with speedy turns. His hockey sense is the best thing he has going for him – he can outthink opponents in 1-on-1 situations and use that to crush them on the scoresheet.

To be effective in scoring areas, you need to find diverse ways to get the puck in the net. Zetterberg’s tactical approach to offense allows him to win so many battles, especially in open space.

“The numbers don’t lie, he’s among the best you’re going to find out of Sweden this year,” a scout said. “Nobody will doubt he’s got the talent to go far. But the concern is about his strength, and that’s the huge limiting factor.”

And that’s hard to ignore. You’ll find smaller players in the draft who overcome their smaller frame by still finding ways to win physical battles. Columbus’ Gavin Brindley or Chicago’s Frank Nazar come to mind. With Zetterberg, he shies away too much from board play and he’s very unlikely to engage physically anywhere on the ice. For a player his size, that’s a big thing to overcome and not an easy thing to get right later in your development.

“If he was about three to four inches bigger, he’s a first-round talent,” one scout admitted.

It’s hard to disagree with that, either. With the puck, Zetterberg plays a bit like Alex DeBrincat out there, someone Zetterberg likes to model his game after. NHL Central Scouting has him as the No. 30 European-ranked skater after originally listing him as a potential seventh-rounder early on. Many scouts didn’t think he’d get drafted this year early on, but some of them are coming around on him as a potential mid-rounder now.

So finding ways to make himself more rounded is crucial for Zetterberg – something he hopes to get better at while at school next year.

“I’m working on my 200-foot game, just going all over the ice,” Zetterberg said at the U-18s. “I’m also trying to improve my physical game and get better at taking hits.”

The team that ultimately takes Zetterberg will be gambling on skill here. Teams with an abundance of picks and can afford to take a chance on him could come out looking like kings if Zetterberg can add a bit of muscle to his frame. His skill is well suited for the NHL, and if he can put it all together, I could see him becoming a top-six player one day.

Always bet big on talent.

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Will Alex Zetterberg’s unquestioned skill trump size at 2024 NHL Draft?

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