Johansson was drafted 120th overall by the Maple Leafs and participated in his first development camp in Toronto last week.
Victor Johansson was drafted in the fourth round of the NHL Draft and he's already showing hints of a player who was a part of the Maple Leafs organization this past season.
The 18-year-old defenseman, who played for Laksands IF's under-20 team this year, dawned a massive grin last week while discussing what it was like to be drafted by Toronto.
"I was at home with my parents, and my dad just started screaming," he said. "My mom just started crying. I didn't know how to react, so it was just amazing."
Johansson didn't believe he'd get drafted that early. The young Swede thought he'd be picked in the seventh round, or not at all. However, he did know that there was always the possibility that Toronto would select him.
"I didn't expect them to draft me, but I know there was a chance they were drafting me," Johansson said. "I didn't know that I was going to go fourth round. I didn't have that on my mind."
Johansson said last week that his current weight is 147 pounds, which means a good amount of work is needed to play pro hockey in North America in the future. He said he expects to grow into his body over the next few years.
However, that didn't stop the 6-foot-1 defender from making a strong impression at development camp.
"I think he was another bright spot in camp. We make a lot about his weight, 147 pounds, but he's a great mover," Maple Leafs assistant GM Hayley Wickenheiser said last week. "He reminds me a little bit of (John) Klingberg when he started out and I think he was about the same weight."
Johansson also spoke about having two brothers who are "like 200 pounds" and the competitiveness they share, which helps push their boundaries as hockey players. With the lack of size currently, the competitiveness will allow the defenseman to grow and become a potential NHL player.
"He didn't seem to have any trouble with the physical play, it's more just the North American shift from the bigger ice in Sweden to the physicality here," Wickenheiser said. "Great personality off the ice, he's a lot of fun, and I'm gonna see him in Sweden later this summer. I look forward to just seeing his life and how he trains over there."
Johansson is going to work on his off-ice training a lot this summer in hopes of getting bigger. That will feature a lot of eating, which he seems excited about.
"Everything I can get in my stomach is good," he said with a smile.
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