Jets select Viktor Klingsell No. 156 overall in 2025 NHL Draft
The Winnipeg Jets selected left winger Viktor Klingsell of Sweden’s Skelleftea AIK with the No. 156 overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday.
Through 43 appearances this season with the Skelleftea AIK junior squad, Klingsell impressed as he came up with near-point-per-game production, scoring 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points, placing him third in team scoring. Of note, Klingsell also saw three appearances this season with the top-tier Skelleftea AIK team, though he came up short in production in his trio of games.
More recently, Klingsell joined the Swedes at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, where through seven games he scored north of a point per game in tallying twice and adding six assists for eight points, a performance that helped Sweden to a silver-medal finish.
Notably, Klingsell also achieved international success at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he led the tournament in all major offensive categories, scoring four goals, eight assists, and 12 points in just five games to help Sweden secure a bronze medal. Lastly, Klingsell also impressed at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where through seven games he notched seven points, registering three goals and four assists en route to another bronze-medal win.
While undersized – Klingsell stands 5-foot-10 – the 18-year-old Swedish-born forward has a heavier build, intriguing offensive instincts, and undeniable natural instincts that allow him to decorate the scoresheet while also setting up his linemates for success.
Still, Klingsell’s most impressive attribute may be his hockey sense and his ability to think the game, a quality that many in the scouting community put atop their wishlist. However, with Klingsell, the budding forward may be more of a long-term project as teams will need to show a willingness to work with him in order to improve his compete level and skating ability.
“Klingsell is an interesting one,” said Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis. “On one hand, you can see the obvious skill. He’s only 5-foot-10 (and a bit on the heavier side for that size) but he makes high-quality plays on the rush and can actually land some decent hits. He put up some good numbers in the Swedish U-20 league, but it feels like he passed the puck more than he needed to. He can be fast at points but there’s still work to be done to become at least an average skater. Overall, there’s something there, but teams need to get past his size and be willing to work with his feet.”
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