By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The 2026 National Hockey League Draft is now eight days away in Buffalo, New York. For the Boston Bruins, picking 23rd overall in the first round, general manager Don Sweeney needs to have a big draft to build for the team’s future. On June 3, Bleacher Report’s Hannah Stuart projected that the Bruins would draft Kamloops Blazers forward J.P. Hurlbert with the 23rd overall pick. While Hurlbert is a talented forward in this year’s draft, a new mock draft from Stuart has the Bruins picking another dynamic forward, Elton Hermansson.
Earlier today, Stuart wrote an article titled “Updated 2026 NHL Mock Draft After the Stanley Cup Final.” Stuart has now projected the Bruins to select Hermansson with the 23rd overall pick. In her June 3 article, Stuart had Hermansson being selected 17th overall by the Los Angeles Kings. Now, Stuart has Hermansson projected to fall six spots to the Bruins, but he’s still a solid first-round draft pick for any team, and he’s one the Bruins may not want to pass up if he’s available to draft.
“This is roughly what feels like an appropriate tier for him to be selected even when betting on his floor, and he’s got some serious upside potential on top of that,” Stuart said about Hermansson. “If he lives up to that potential, the Bruins could come away with a real steal; Hermansson’s skill is thrilling when he’s at his best.”
Hockey Allsvenskan in the MoDo Hockey League in Sweden is where Hermansson mainly spent the 2025-26 season. where he recorded 21 points in 38 games. MoDo Hockey is Sweden’s second-highest level of professional hockey. Hermansson’s 21 points were tied for the fourth-most points ever by an under-18 player in the league, definitely a way to stand out at a young age. Hermansson raised his game even more when he represented Team Sweden on two different occasions this season.
Hermansson recorded 12 points in seven games for Team Sweden’s U17 Team. If Hermansson’s U17 performance was good, his U18 performance in the 2026 U18 IIHF World Championships was even better. In 18 games at the 2026 IIHF World Championships, Hermansson recorded 33 points, the second-most among all players, and his performance helped Team Sweden capture the gold. Adam Kimelman of NHL.com ranked Hermansson the best right wing in this year’s draft six days ago.
At 6’1″, 183 lbs, Hermansson brings speed and the ability to handle the puck well on the ice. Hermansson is elusive and can create scoring chances with his skill. Stuart was critical of Hermansson’s skating posture and physicality, saying both need improvement. However, Hermansson, being 18 years old, gives him time to work on both areas.
“He has vision and patience and he’s manipulating the defenders,” said NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen. “His skating is smooth and agile, and I feel these elements will make him a great NHL player.”
The Bruins need depth up front, as a good amount of the team’s forwards for the next couple of seasons are free agents. Hermansson’s play throughout this season has helped him stand out as a player for the Bruins to watch at the draft. Playing well on an International stage and winning gold to finish shouldn’t go unnoticed, and that is where Hermansson deserves the recognition for his hard work and skill.
Leave a Reply