2026 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Douglas Nilsson (G)

In what appears to be a weaker year for Swedish goalie prospects, Nilsson is positioning
himself as one of the top options. His puck tracking is a clear strength. He consistently finds
sightlines, even through traffic, and follows the puck well into his hands, which helps with both
saves and rebound control. His lower body is also impressive, with strong flexibility and mobility
allowing him to seal the ice effectively with a wide butterfly. His ability to get into that position
quickly makes him very difficult to beat down low. That said, he lacks elite top-end speed
compared to other prospects, and his situational awareness needs improvement. On a couple of
goals, a simple shoulder check could have prevented the scoring chance. Nilsson has a solid
case to be drafted, most likely in the later rounds.