The 20-year-old right wing, selected in the third round (No. 73) in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings, had a productive playoff run for Frolunda in the SHL, Sweden’s top men’s league. After scoring 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 48 regular-season games, he had four points (two goals, two assists) in six playoff games.
Dower-Nilsson’s season came to an end Thursday, however, as Frolunda lost 4-2 in their best-of-seven quarterfinal series against Lulea and was eliminated from postseason play.
Ondrej Kos, Ilves (U20 SM-sarja), Finland
The 20-year-old forward has made up for a lot of lost time in a quick fashion. He was limited to just seven regular-season games total, including four at the Liiga level and three at the junior level, because of injury.
Kos, selected in the third round (No. 81) of the 2024 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues, has seven points (three goals, four assists) in four playoff games in U20 SM-sarja, helping Ilves advance to the final after sweeping their best-of-5 semifinal against HPK.
The 22-year-old defenseman had 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 42 regular-season games in Liiga, the top men’s league in Finland, and proved to be productive in his brief playoff action prior to Kiekko-Espoo’s elimination in the first round by Assat.
Kulonummi, picked in the third round (No. 84) of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators, had four points (two goals, two assists) to help push the series to a fifth and deciding game in the opening round.
Love Harenstam, Sodertalje SK (HockeyAllsvenskan), Sweden
The 19-year-old goaltender, who helped Sweden to gold at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship where he was named the tournament’s top goaltender, has continued in the playoffs where he left off in the regular season for Sodertalje. He had a 1.81 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 32 games played in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest men’s league in Sweden, and has helped his side into semifinal action against Bjorkloven.
Harenstam, selected in the sixth round (No. 179) in the 2025 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues, has a 2.34 GAA and .918 save percentage in eight playoff starts as Sodertalje trails Bjorkloven 2-0 in the best-of-7 semifinal.
The 19-year-old defenseman had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 32 games for Vaxjo in his first full season in the SHL after playing 16 games in the league with five points (one goal, four assists) in 2024-25. He’s become even more productive in the playoffs, where he’s helped Vaxjo advance to the semifinal with a 4-1 series win in their best-of-7 quarterfinal set against Brynas IF.
Sahlin Wallenius, who was selected in the second round (No. 53) of the 2024 draft by the San Jose Sharks and helped Sweden to gold at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, has four points (one goal, three assists) in five playoff games.
The 19-year-old goalie has been one of the hottest goaltenders in postseason play in Liiga, the top men’s league in Finland. He is 4-3-0 with a 1.46 GAA and .952 save percentage in seven appearances for HPK, who currently trails Tappara 2-1 in their best-of-7 quarterfinal series.
Saarinen, selected in the third round (No. 88) of the 2024 draft by the Seattle Kraken, had a 2.11 GAA and .916 save percentage in 38 regular-season games played.
Theo Stockselius, Djurgardens IF (U20 Nationell), Sweden
The 18-year-old forward split his regular season between the SHL and U20 Nationell with Djurgarden, amassing 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 11 games at the junior level and adding an assist in 16 games at the men’s senior level. His playoff season was similarly divided, too. Stockselius, selected in the second round (No. 54) of the 2025 draft by the Calgary Flames, has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in five games with Djurgarden’s U20 program after being held without a point for the organization in their shortened SHL playoff bid.
He and Djurgarden begin a semifinal series against Leksands IF on Saturday.
Max Westergard, Frolunda HC (U20 Nationell), Sweden
The 18-year-old, currently up with Frolunda’s SHL group, has been one of U20 Nationell’s most productive skaters in postseason play with seven goals and 12 points in eight games for the team’s junior program, who will begin a semifinal series against Orebro HK on Saturday.
Westergard, picked in the fifth round (No. 132) of the 2025 draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, had 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 20 regular-season games with Frolunda’s U20 team, skated in 18 games with Frolunda’s SHL team, and played an additional five games on loan to IF Bjorkloven in HockeyAllsvenskan.
