2025-26 Team: Örebro HK U20 (U20 Nationell)
Date of Birth: April 19, 2008
Place of Birth: Oslo, Norway
Height: 6-foot-1, Weight: 187 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing/Right Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: First Year Eligible
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting – European Prospect: 15th
- Sportsnet (Bukala): 29th
- Dobber Prospects – 30th
- THN/Ferrari – 38th
Niklas Aaram-Olsen (NAO) is a Norwegian winger who is one of the best goal scorers in the 2026 Draft. He has the skill and scoring to lead a powerplay and an athletic frame that should set him up well in the NHL. NAO has been excellent in Sweden’s top junior league, scoring a point per game last season as a 17 year old and leveling that up to roughly 1.4 points per game in his draft year.
He didn’t spend the entire season at the junior level though, dressing for 16 games in the SHL with Örebro’s senior club. However, he never earned significant ice time and didn’t score any points.
In five games at the Division 1A World Junior Championships, NAO scored six goals and 10 points, helping to lead Norway on an undefeated run through the tourney and back into the top level of the tournament for the 2027 World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
NAO scored 20 goals and 20 assists in only 29 games, which gives a glimpse into his scoring ability. He can pick a corner from range and looks like a potential top-six winger in the NHL. NAO isn’t the most competitive or physical player, so don’t draw comparisons to fellow Norwegian Michael Brandsegg-Nygård just because they’re from the same country, but he has a big body and has decent two-way potential.
Niklas Aaram-Olsen – NHL Draft Projection
Niklas Aaram-Olsen is likely to be a first rounder in the 2026 Draft. There’s never any guarantees, but NAO’s skating, shooting, and hands should be enough to inspire the kind of hope that teams selecting in the first round are looking for. If he does slide into day two of the 2026 Draft, I doubt he’ll last long, going shortly thereafter in the second round.
Quotables
“Aaram-Olsen is an offensively minded winger with strong puckhandling skills. He’s at his best on the power play, where he is a threat with a quick, accurate shot. “ – Jacob Smeds, The Hockey News
“He’s a good skater who gets up and down the ice well and is willing to track back on pucks, with room to add strength “ – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic (“2026 NHL Draft Ranking – Wheeler’s March top 64”, March 17.)
Strengths
- Excellent shot
- Side-to-side hands
- Straight-line speed
Under Construction- Improvements to Make
- Physical play
- Continued growth as a defensive player
NHL Potential
With an NHL frame, a great shot, and strong skating, there’s a chance that Aaram-Olsen peaks as a first line winger. I think he’s more likely to end up as a middle-six winger who can pitch in with 25+ goals a few times throughout his career and help drive offense on the powerplay.
Risk- Reward Analysis
Risk- 2/5, Reward 4/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense- 7/10, Defense – 6/10
Awards/ Achievements
2024-25: WJC (D1A) – Bronze Medal
2025-26: WJC (D1A) – Gold Medal
Niklas Aaram-Olsen Stats
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