Casper Juustovaara Karlsson – 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Casper Juustovaara Karlsson

2025–26 Team: 20 Luleå HF (SHL)
Date of Birth: Oct. 25, 2007
Place of Birth: Luleå, Sweden
Height: 5-foot-9, Weight: 168 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Centre/Left Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible

Rankings

• NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings: 94^th (among Int’l skaters)
• Andrew Forbes/THW: 128^th
• Peter Baracchini/THW: 108^th
• Dayton Reimer/THW: 64^th
• SMAHT Scouting: 57^th
• Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff: 103^rd
• Tony Ferrari/THN: 39^th

Casper Juustovaara Karlsson is a speedy, hard-working forward from Sweden who has been surprising scouts all season with his ability to compete against bigger, stronger competition. He consistently puts himself in the right position for scoring chances, and his quickness and hand-eye coordination make him one of the more underrated prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Standing just 5-foot-9, Juustovaara has been largely overlooked due to his size. Granted, he does look quite small on the ice and will need to add significant strength before he threatens to steal an NHL job, but, like many undersized players, he’s thrived no matter where he’s gone. After a strong 2024-25 season with Luleå’s U20 team, he began the 2025-26 season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), where he played nearly 14 minutes, and over two minutes more than Viggo Bjorck did in his debut. However, NHL Central Scouting still listed him as a ‘W’ prospect in their Preliminary Players to Watch list in October, indicating a potential sixth or seventh round pick.

In December, Juustovaara was named to the Swedish World Junior team, and once again, many wrote him off as too small to make a difference at one of the most competitive tournaments on the hockey calendar. Yet he still scored two crucial goals throughout the tournament, and his ability to play away from the puck helped the Swedes capture their first gold medal in 14 years.

His ice time decreased as the season wore on, and he didn’t add another point in the SHL after a two-goal game on Oct. 23, leaving him with four goals and six points in 31 games. However, after joining the U20 team, he was electric, scoring six goals in seven games and ending the season on a high note.

Juustovaara is incredibly creative when moving the puck. He’s not a natural puckhandler or sniper, but his quick reaction time helps him capitalize on opportunities that would pass most of his peers. In one game, he was able to catch a poor pass off his skate, bounce it back onto his stick, and create a scoring chance that very nearly didn’t exist. He can also get his stick in the path of a pass unbelievably quickly, making him very dangerous when he’s on defence. He’s constantly aware of his surroundings thanks to his intelligent positioning; with a quick burst of speed, he can get exactly where he needs to be.

But it’s Juustovaara’s competitiveness that has made him such an intriguing prospect. He refuses to give up on a play and will be the first to get into the tough areas of the ice. He shows a solid physical side, too, and although he can’t push many players around, he doesn’t go down easily. That side of his game can carry him to the NHL as an energy winger. On that same play mentioned previously, he missed his initial scoring chance, but he hustled to crash the front of the net, picked up his own rebound, and pulled it to the goalie’s far side for another excellent opportunity.

As mentioned previously, Juustovaara’s size will hold him back, or at least it will cause NHL teams to be more hesitant to give him a chance. But other issues have raised concerns among scouts. He’s very quick, especially in short bursts, but he’s not the most dynamic skater, which is usually a facet of a smaller player’s game. Similarly, he has a great shot, but a lot of his scoring opportunities come from outworking his opponents and establishing himself in front of the net, and while every team needs a player like that, his size will hold him back from playing that style in tougher leagues.

Juustovaara is a risky pick, but there are good reasons to believe he can overcome the odds and become an NHL player. He works harder than anyone else, and with a great foundation of developing skills, a breakout is almost certainly in his future. That’s worth betting on at the 2026 NHL Draft.

Other THW Draft Profiles

• Tyus Sparks
• Viggo Bjorck
• Jonas Lagerberg Hoen

Casper Juustovaara Karlsson – NHL Draft Projection

Opinions vary widely on where Juustovaara will end up. His talent is arguably top 60, but his size might push him into the later rounds of the draft. Because of the NHL’s bias towards smaller forwards, he’s more likely to end up as a very late pick, likely no earlier than the fifth round.

Quotables

“I, like many scouts, was surprised to see him on the Swedish World Junior team. But it became clear watching him that he might be one of the smaller forwards who actually finds a way to crack an NHL bottom-six in an energy role. Juustovaara Karlsson never stops moving under any circumstance – it’s his mission to make life miserable for everyone around him. He’s as intense as you’re going to find at this point in the draft, and he thrives on the penalty kill. I could also see teams ignoring him altogether and letting him go undrafted, but I like him. I think there’s a long road for him to become an NHLer because he lacks the high-end offence to help separate him from someone who is, say, quick at 6-foot-3. But I like his potential.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“What stands out with the young Swede is his relentless intensity and “sandpaper” style. He is not necessarily looking to drop the gloves, but he excels at imposing himself physically, finishing checks with authority — even against much larger players — and constantly invading the opponent’s space. He loves playing in traffic, going to the front of the net, and battling in the corners.” – Mathieu Paradis, Tout Sur Le Hockey

“He’s truly one of the most fearless players in this draft class, going into corners or attacking the net off puck to bang in rebounds with regularity. He reads the ice so well, and that should make him a player worth drafting. Unfortunately, his size is an issue, and even though I would throw a later round pick at him to get him in my system in hopes that he keeps being as fearless as he is, an NHL team likely doesn’t want to commit an asset like a draft pick on CJK.” – Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News

Strengths

• Competitiveness
• Creative puck distribution
• Has some bite to his game
• Strong shot

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

• Lower offensive ceiling
• Very small; needs to add strength
• Could use more mobility in his skating

NHL Potential

Juustovaara has a long road to making the NHL, and centre is almost certainly out of the question. If he gets there, his speed, intelligence, and quick reflexes could see him emerge as a middle-six energy winger, capable of putting up 40-50 points on the right team, much like Conor Garland.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk – 5/5, Reward – 3/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offence – 6.5/10, Defence – 6/10

Awards/Achievements

• 2025-26 Svenska Cupen U20 Bronze Medal
• 2025-26 U20 World Junior Gold Medal

Casper Juustovaara Karlsson Stats

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