After selecting Marek Alscher in the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito addressed the blue line a second time with the selection of mobile Swedish defenseman Ludvig Jansson in the fourth round (125th overall) of the event.
Jansson appeared in 47 games with Södertälje SK of HockeyAllsvenskan during his draft season, posting five points (2G/3A), which ranked seventh among under-20 defensemen in the league.
The 6-foot, 181-pound Stockholm native also appeared in three international games with Sweden’s U20 team in 2021-22, producing one goal.
Jansson is a strong defensive player with a high motor who is also capable of driving play. His positioning is good and his mobility allows him to close the gap on opposing players.
Neutral Zone had Jansson graded as a B- prospect (low probability of playing NHL games before 22 years old – some NHL potential) and ranked 155th in its final draft rankings, with the following assessment:
To be: He has quick feet and is exceptional at gapping up or setting his gap during transition. During offensive neutral zone transition, he has the confidence to find the middle.
Not to be: He rarely forces plays or turns the puck over in the defensive zone, but in the other 2/3 of the ice he can telegraph his passes which will lead to odd-man rushes against in the NHL. 47% of his shots hit the net. He wins 48% of his puck battles.
After attending Panthers development camp and playing four scoreless games at the second take of the 2022 World Junior Championship, Jansson put in a second season in HockeyAllsvenskan in 2022-23, playing in 44 of Södertälje SK’s 52 regular season games. He scored one goal and set new highs with nine assists and ten points for the fifth-place club.
He appeared in all six of the team’s postseason games before they were bounced by Mora IK in the league quarterfinals.
The 2023 World Junior Championship is where Jansson served notice he might be more than just a defensive defenseman. Jansson was one of two defensemen in the tournament to finish with ten points, American Ryan Ufko was the other, hitting double-digits on four goals and six assists. He scored twice, including the overtime winner, in a Group A game against Czechia. At end of the event, he was named to the Media All-Star team along with David Jiricek, the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
In July of 2023, Jansson attended his second development camp with the Panthers before returning home play his first season in the Swedish Hockey League with Luleå HF. Jansson’s first campaign at the top of Sweden’s hockey pyramid saw him appear in 50 games and finish with three assists, 25 PIM and a minus-seven rating. He also suited up in one game at the junior level and produced a goal and an assist against his peers.
Jansson played in all seven of Luleå’s postseason games as they won a best-of-three series against Örebro HK before getting swept by the Växjö Lakers in the quarterfinals.
The 20-year-old was one of ten defensemen at Florida’s development camp earlier this month and scored a shootout during the final day scrimmage.
Jansson will return to Sweden to continue honing his game as he works towards an entry-level contract with the Panthers. After producing just three assists last season, it will be interesting to see if he can up his offensive output in his second turn in the SHL. There are signs against his peer group that there is untapped potential, but he’s yet to display it against professionals.