Blue Jackets select Samuel Johannesson with 176th pick in 2020 NHL Draft

COLUMBUS, OH – Samuel Johannesson has not received much fanfare this season, but he became a sleeper pick in his second year of eligibility as the Columbus Blue Jackets picked him 176th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.

He may have started the season in the SuperElit league with Rögle BK’s J20 team, but ended up finishing it with Rögle BK in the SHL. As a 19-year-old, he posted 1 goal and 11 points in 44 games. All of his production came at even strength and seven of his ten helpers were of the primary variety. Even though he played a limited role at the beginning of the season, he did start to eclipse the 20-minute mark more frequently towards the end of 2019. From the beginning of December to the end of the season, he averaged almost 15 minutes of ice time and became a key piece of Rögle BK’s defence core.