William Håkansson
2025-26 Team: Luleå HF U20 (U20 Nationell)
Date of Birth: Oct. 8, 2007
Place of Birth: Solna, Sweden
Ht: 6-foot-4 Wt: 207 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: D
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
The 2026 NHL Draft has plenty of offensively gifted defensemen in it, but when you watch William Håkansson play, you notice his defensive play more than anything else. After spending time in three different leagues (SHL, U20 Nationell, and HockeyAllsvenskan), he has seen plenty of action in his draft-year season and has put that defensive game on display. He is hard to miss on the ice with his size, standing at 6-foot-4, but relies more on his stickwork and reach defensively to keep opponents either out of high-danger areas or to shut down rush opportunities with strong gap control. When he does throw his weight around, the hits are crunching, but seeing him become more physical could help him become an even tougher defenseman to play against.
To go along with the reach he has, Håkansson has strong skating abilities for a player his size and can maneuver and position himself well defensively to get into passing or shooting lanes, which helps him be an effective penalty killer. Where his defensive game does lack and needs a bit of work is in his battle engagement. As mentioned, he does not use his size as much as he could and tends to shy away from battling opponents.
Related: THW’s 2026 NHL Draft Guide
On the offensive side of the game, Håkansson is far from being flashy, as he plays a simplistic and straightforward game when he has the puck on his stick. He uses his skating to be a solid breakout starter and in the neutral zone when given space, but overall, he is more of a first-pass defenseman with the puck on his stick. Once in the offensive zone, he has no lack of confidence; he is very active from the point and possesses a strong, heavy shot, but his overall puck skills will need some development.
Overall, Håkansson may not end up being a defenseman that lights the world on fire with his offensive output, but if he can continue to develop and possibly get a full season in the SHL this next season, his offensive game could end up maturing, and he has a chance to become a strong shutdown defenseman with some flashes of offense.
Other THW Draft Profiles
William Håkansson- NHL Draft Projection
While Håkansson may not have the best offensive game in his arsenal, NHL teams love having big defensemen in their lineups who are responsible on their end of the ice. Håkansson fits that, and could hear his name called towards the end of the first round or early on in the second.
Quotables
“There’s nothing flashy about Håkansson’s game, but the Swedes clearly liked him in more of a defensive role. He didn’t play a ton down the stretch, but he was relied on for his long reach and physical attributes on the penalty kill. He’s a raw prospect who plays more of a chip-out-of-danger puck game, although he does a solid job of disrupting plays and blocking scoring lanes.”- Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
“He can play with physicality, though he still needs to bring more consistency in that area and improve his decision-making when attacking puck recoveries in dangerous spots. He’s not a player who will fill the stat sheet, and his evaluation may be slightly impacted by limited point production, especially in an era where offensive output from defensemen is heavily valued, but his steadiness and consistent play continue to reflect well on him.”- Ivan Ortiz, SMAHT Scouting
Strengths
- Mobile skater: Has the ability to change direction well and maneuver well
- An aggressive player defensively at both ends of the ice
- A sound defensive game led by his strong gap control in transition
- Uses his reach well defensively to keep opponents to the outside of the offensive zone
- Strong penalty killer when given the opportunity
- While his offensive numbers do not jump off the page, he is very comfortable and active in the offensive zone.
Under Construction/ Improvements to Make
- Willingness to battle at times does lack
- Struggles with the puck on his stick under pressure
- His overall puck skills need some refinement and development
- While he has a solid frame, he does not play as physically as expected; maturation and learning to use his body will come with time.
NHL Potential
Håkansson has the defensive skill set to be, at a minimum, a bottom-pair player capable of being a shutdown defenseman and playing on the penalty kill. If he can continue to develop his offensive game, he has the possibility to end up as a second-pair defenseman who can bring some offense from the backend of the ice.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk: 2/5 Reward: 4/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense: 4/10 Defense: 8/10
Awards/Achievements
- 2026 U20 WJC Gold Medal (Sweden)
William Håkansson Stats
Videos
William Håkansson(2026)
Goal🚨 from today#NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/4Hgs1rGf59— HockeyWithZak (@HockeyWithZak) March 1, 2026
William Håkansson picks up his first assist in his second hockey allsvenskan game. #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/BHSfFvHEJk
— HockeyWithZak (@HockeyWithZak) January 21, 2026
William Håkansson🇸🇪 scored a goal and added an assist today in just nine minutes of ice time.
He’s not a guarantee, but I have him making Sweden’s🇸🇪 World Juniors team.#WorldJuniors #2026NHLDraft https://t.co/cCLnLDJS4z
— WJCrankings (@WJCrankings) November 11, 2025
