The Calgary Flames picked up Axel Hurtig, a Swedish defenceman playing out of the J20 Nationell in Sweden in 2022–23 with their 2023 sixth-round pick.
Axel Hurtig player profile
Hurtig was born on June 10, 2005 in Hogas, Sweden and is one of the younger players in the draft. He weighs in at 203 lbs (92kg) and stands at 6’4″ (194 cm).
Hurtig has spent his entire hockey career in Sweden thus far. This recent season he suited up for Rogle BK J18 and J20 in the J18 and J20 Nationell leagues. He also represented Sweden at the U18 World Championships where Sweden claimed a silver medal.
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Rogle BK J18 | J18 Nationell | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Rogle BK J20 | J20 Nationell | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Seventh round picks are complete dart throws, but Hurtig has NHL size and adds another big body to the Flames 2023 draft class. If he can work on some areas of his game, he has the potential to become a bottom pairing option in the NHL.
