Prospect Spotlight: Simon Robertsson
Prospect Spotlight is a feature highlighting NHL Draft eligibles and giving a peek into what makes them an intriguing prospect ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft. This edition features Skelleftea AIK’s Simon Robertsson.
- Date of Birth: February 5, 2003
- Position: RW
- Team: Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
- Height: Six-foot
- Weight: 181 lbs
- Shoots: L
Robertsson led Skelleftea’s J20 team in scoring up until the season was paused
In the 15 games Robertsson played before J20 games were paused due to COVID-19 concerns, he racked up nine goals and 20 points. Seven of those games were multi-point performances. That was good enough to lead Skelleftea in scoring. Robertsson is currently fifth overall in J20 Nationell scoring amongst first-time draft-eligible players, despite having played fewer games.
Related: FCHockey’s Top-10 Preliminary Rankings – Sweden
Robertsson has the opportunity to play in the SHL in his draft year
Because the Swedish Hockey Federation decided to pause games in the J20 and J18 leagues, Robertsson’s play was good enough to earn a stint with Skelleftea’s SHL team. In his most recent SHL game, Robertsson played about ten minutes and though he has yet to record any points in the SHL this season, he’ll have a great opportunity to play in the men’s league during his draft year and show that he’s capable of thriving against older players.
Robertsson one of two top-ranked Swedish Simons eligible for the 2021 Draft
There are two Swedish Simons eligible for the upcoming NHL draft: Robertsson and Edvinsson. Both are tantalizing talents. While Robertsson plays right wing, Edvinsson is a defenseman. Despite only being six-foot at the moment, Robertsson is a strong power winger with solid skating mechanics. He’s difficult to play against, especially along the boards, and he has a sturdy stride that allows him to protect the puck well while getting up and down the ice quickly. The hard-working forward also boasts a wicked release that is just as heavy as it is fast.
Related: 2021 NHL Draft: 5 Swedish players to watch
What the experts say
“Robertsson is a big and heavy winger who plays with a lot of power. As a typical power forward, he is not afraid to play physical and get into dirty areas. He is also very strong along the boards and uses his strength and size to protect the puck when carrying it in both acceleration and high speed. Robertsson has powerful strides, which helps him reach his top speed. His agility really helps him to change skating directions quickly which makes him really hard to defend against when entering the offensive zone with speed.” – Swedish regional scout Viktor Bergman
“Robertsson has a high hockey-IQ and knows where [his teammates are] and when to pass the puck or when to hold onto it. He often makes quick decisions and opens up the game with diagonal passes through the zone… Overall, Robertsson is a player that could be interesting for many teams in so many ways. He is an all-around player with some really high-end qualities on the top.” – Swedish regional scout Fredrik Haak