The Kraken traded back again, and with their first pick in the 7th round, they went and got a swedish defender from HV71; Karl Annborn!
What EliteProspects thinks:
Karl Annborn’s maturity has always enabled him to climb the ranks more quickly compared to his peers. While the term “two-way defenceman” fits the bill well with Annborn, in our eyes, the most projectable parts of his game are the defensive work and the puck-moving. He’s got strong defensive habits, breaking up plays cleanly with his stick while also holding his own in battles along the wall and very rarely getting caught out of position. Once a breakup is created, Annborn also knows what to do next with the puck. He keeps his touches simple yet reliable and occasionally wows with a more complex breakout sequence…while the lack of specialty limits the ceiling, it isn’t out of the question that he’s able to leverage his well-roundedness into a bottom-pairing gig, especially if he adds an extra step as a skater.
EliteProspects Draft Guide 2025
What we think:
Annborn is a 7th rounder in the NHL draft; the actual chances of him making the show are enormously slim, and if he makes it even to the Coachella Valley Firebirds it should celebrated as a win for the player. That said? It’s good to have right-handed defensive depth, and he fits that mold perfectly. There’s little more you can say than that.
Have fun in the SHL this year, Karl!
His Stats:
Let’s all welcome Karl to The Deep!