On June 29th, 2022, the Minnesota Wild traded Kevin Fiala to the Los Angeles Kings for Brock Faber and LA’s 2022 first-round pick. At first, Wild fans were curious if Faber could live up to the hype surrounding him since the team gave up a scoring forward. But Faber is on the verge of becoming one of the best young blueliners in the NHL. That alone is a win for Minnesota. 

But then the Wild turned LA’s 2022 first-round pick into Liam Ohgren, who they took 19th overall. Ohgren isn’t a popular prospect like Danila Yurov or Riley Heidt, but Ohgren will impress fans with his mature game and leadership abilities. Ohgren has the makeup of a clutch performer who can ultimately win the Fiala trade for the Wild.

Ohgren is a forward with third-line energy but has a top-six player’s skill. He’s not flashy like Fiala, but Ohgren can provide game-breaking value. He can be a playoff game-breaker like Justin Williams, who won the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014. Ohgren’s mature game and pro-style can translate to the NHL. He just needs to make the team.

Ohgren’s statistical projections weren’t high during his draft year. He turned professional playing in the SHL for Djurgårdens IF but didn't show much progress, posting 2 points in 25 games, a 15-point pace. But Ohgren improved his draft stock by playing in the minors for J20 Djurgårdens of J20 Nationell, posting 58 points (33 goals, 25 assists) in 30 games. In 2022-23, he scored 20 points in 32 games on loan for Djurgårdens IF in the HockeyAllsvenskan, a 45-point pace. That 30-point increase showed he can tap into more upside with time to develop. He currently has a 55-point ceiling, which is top-nine value.

Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarello, Marco Rossi, and Marat Khusnutdinov will likely occupy the top-six for the rest of the season. But the 3rd line gets interesting. Marcus Johansson and Ryan Hartman are likely there. Can Ohgren make a difference for this trio? 

He plays with a motor, which should complement Hartman, and is more of a shooter than a playmaker, which should complement Johansson’s playmaking with his speed. There’s a chance this trio can work as a depth scoring line. Or what if the team puts Eriksson Ek, Ohgren, and Johansson together as a Swedish trio? That leaves the 1st line with Kaprizov, Rossi, and Zuccarello and the 2nd line with Boldy, Khusnutdinov, and Hartman. Ohgren still gets a legitimate chance to provide top-nine value. 

Given how he plays, Ohgren’s 55 points can either be 20 goals, 35 assists, or 30 goals, 25 assists. Williams displayed that regular season ceiling. He’s a five-time 20-goal scorer and a two-time 30-goal scorer. Williams’ overall points-per-game in the regular season is 0.63 points. But he scored 40 points in 46 playoff games, which is 0.87 points in the combined years 2011-12 and 2013-14 when the Kings won the Cup. He was instrumental in LA’s Cup runs. 

Like Williams, Ohgren is more productive in the playoffs than in the regular season. Ohgren has 44 points in 32 career postseason games. Ohgren’s playoff production indicates he’s on the verge of being a playoff performer for the Wild, who have struggled to have players come in clutch. Nobody expects Ohgren to be a 1.38-point scorer in the Cup playoffs. But you can bet that Ohgren's leadership will elevate the Wild’s compete level in must-win situations, and he'll be clutch when it matters the most. 

Josh Norris is another comparison for Ohgren. The San Jose Sharks drafted Norris 19th overall in 2017. In September 2018, San Jose traded Norris to the Ottawa Senators for Erik Karlsson. Norris had 30 goals in 2021-22, but injuries have been his kryptonite. 

Norris and Ohgren are 6’1”, but Ohgren is 11 pounds lighter (187 lbs.). But they’re strikingly similar when you look at their scouting reports and compare them. Ohgren’s uncertain ceiling is the difference that stands out. He’s not an offensive dynamo who will produce juggernaut numbers. However, Ohgren is a capable playmaker and scorer. Much like the criticism that Joel Eriksson Ek faced early, but Eriksson Ek grew his game with time. The Wild can play Ohgren in every situation. 

Ohgren is showing a promising increase in point production that aligns with Williams and Norris. He has the potential to become a valuable player, especially in playoff situations, and his health and performance are crucial for the Wild. Ohgren will further solidify his potential impact on the team by enhancing his leadership qualities. That’s why Ohgren belongs on a high-end roster like Marat Khusnutdinov, Carson Lambos, Jesper Wallstedt, and Yurov.