Penguins Focus on Draft Profiles for Hermansson

We've officially reached our 10th Pittsburgh Penguins draft profile with three days to go until the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Today's profile dives into winger Elton Hermansson, a dual-threat right-shot player from Sweden.

He started the 2025-26 season with MoDo Hockey's U20 team, producing three goals and nine points in 13 games. His impressive performance earned him a call to the men's pro MoDo team, where he played in 38 games, compiling 11 goals and 21 points.

Hermansson also played for Sweden in the U18s, racking up four goals and 12 points in seven games. Projections for when he could get drafted are all over the place, with some pundits viewing him as a sure-fire first-round pick, while others have him sliding to the second round.

Personally, I think it would be nuts if he didn't go in the first round, even though he needs to be a bit more consistent. However, he's a strong dual-threat winger with excellent passing and shooting capabilities.

His vision is absurd, and he has a great way of finding players, even when they don't look to be open. I saw him fit pucks through lanes with multiple sticks in the way, leading to strong scoring chances and goals.

Hermansson's release is a thing of beauty, especially from the left circle, where he scored multiple goals this past season. The puck exploded off his stick each time. Even when he's not being set up with one-timers from that spot, he can score from anywhere in the offensive zone and has a really nice wrist shot, which he disguises well.

Don't forget about Hermansson's dangling ability; he's very silky and can make players miss on a dime. During a game between Sweden and Czechia, Hermansson skated up to the point before making a move that allowed him to go one-on-one with the goaltender.

Although he was ultimately stopped, his teammate scored the overtime winner right after. His two-way game still needs work, and I'd like to see his compete level become more consistent. There were times during this season when he was going through the motions, but both of these qualities can improve with a full season with Modo in 2026-27.

While Hermansson is a tier below some top favorites in the Penguins' range, like Tommy Bleyl, J.P. Hurlbert, and Nikita Klepov, he'd still be a solid pick if the Penguins opted to select him. The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft will take place on Friday at 7 p.m.

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