The Washington Capitals have loaned prospect Ludwig Persson to IPK of the Mestis league in Finland, according to the team’s website. The 2022 third-round selection has played in Sweden for his entire career, most recently with BIK Karlskoga of the HockeyAllsvenskan league.
The 19-year-old started out with the Frölunda HC in the SHL, but only played one game and thus resulted in him being loaned to Karlskoga.
“I felt that I, as it looks now, I am not really ready to be a good player in the SHL,” Persson said. “Karlskoga heard from me and was interested and I felt that playing here gives me an extremely good opportunity for me to establish myself on the next level and hopefully be able to take the next step in my development.”
However, the Göteborg, Sweden native had a tough time finding his game with the team, only racking up 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 45 games. His production really started to decline during the second half of the season.
The 6-foot-0 forward also represented Team Sweden in the U20 World Junior Championship, scoring one goal.
Ludwig Persson: 2023 Annual Review And Forecast
Persson is in the second year of his three-year, entry-level contract he signed back in July 2022, right after he was drafted. After his season with Karlskoga concluded, he was reassigned to the Hershey Bears, but did not see any postseason action.
“I am an offensive player who likes to have the puck and put my teammates or myself in good positions. I have good skating (skills) that I like to use, good speed, a good shot and a good sense of play.”
Before his season began, Persson was one of 22 Swedes to play in the Four Nations Tournament, but did not register a single point in three games after being shuffled throughout the lineup.
Persson is still the youngest player ever to suit up for Frölunda at 16-years, three months and three days, back in the 2019-20 season.
By Jacob Cheris
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Pro: only 29 and has scored in regular season. Con: has not scored a lot recently in tournaments. For a 22 3rdround draft pick I would expect more scoring either goals or assist in tournaments as he says he is “I am an offensive player who likes to have the puck and put my teammates or myself in good positions.” By letting him play overseas again this year I would think that the Caps are saying that despite players lost in the offseason from Hershey and SC they have better Center and LW prospects both places.
Number of people here want more players from the Finnish system. Maybe a year on a Finnish team will provide good results.
And a year of travel for Capitals scouts/Danny Brooks, etc. to watch him play means much more time in Finnland for those that matter most.
In case there others with Druids lack of comprehension and intelligence he is only 19
Danny Brooks. He will make us or break us, won’t he? Good player and the more of them there are the better it is for the sport no matter where he winds up. The NHL drafts 224 players a year for a league that can support only roughly 1500 professional players more than half of which spend most or all of their time in the minor leagues. But if they try hard to learn and the teams do a good job of teaching, these guys will become good players somewhere, either here or overseas. The more good players there are the more the sport grows and the better the players that will bubble up to the top ranks. Good luck to Ludwig. Who knows? It wouldn’t shock me to see him suit up for a least a game or two in the NHL in the next five years.