Scouting Report on Jakob Ihs-Wozniak | 2025 NHL Draft
Throughout the 2024-2025 season, TSLH Prospects will be sharing scouting reports, rankings, and profiles of prospects eligible to the 2025 NHL Draft. Continuing our work of the past five years, our analysts will provide insights on numerous prospects to give you a comprehensive overview of the draft class and their progress. Today, the spotlight is on Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, a forward playing in Sweden.
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2025 NHL Draft Scouting Report: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak
Unlike last year, the 2025 NHL Draft Swedish cohort includes young talents who will be selected during the first round. The two headliners from the country are, of course, Anton Frondell and Jakob Ihs-Wozniak. According to observers’ projections, both could even see their names called in the top 10.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound winger dominated the competition in the J20 Nationell during the 2023-2024 season and is expected to see some time in the SHL in the coming months. With 50 points in 36 games, Jakob Ihs-Wozniak has nothing left to prove at this level, especially considering his contributions internationally against players his age. The only thing he might need to work on is his consistency.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak Displays Undeniable Talent
If there’s one thing you notice when Jakob Ihs-Wozniak steps onto the ice, it’s that he has tremendous potential for professional hockey. First of all, the Swede boasts an advantageous size and moves very effectively with or without the puck. He might not be the most dynamic player, but he engages enough to stand out in this aspect.
In possession of the puck, Jakob Ihs-Wozniak is one of the top playmakers in the 2025 NHL Draft. It seems like he always knows what to do to turn a mundane situation into a scoring chance. Whether it’s with an unexpected cross-ice pass, movements along the perimeter to create chaos, or a well-placed shot-pass, the Swede is difficult to read.
Dangerous for Opponents, but Habits to Correct
His ability to gather information around him appears to be on point and quick, as even under pressure, the forward knows where to send the puck to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses. Taking the puck away from Jakob Ihs-Wozniak is no easy task, as he has a good variety of dekes aided by his size, mobility, and reach. Good luck going one-on-one with him.
Around the net, his efficiency is just as evident with his quick and precise shot. The problem is that he doesn’t necessarily venture into the high-danger areas with regularity. He’s more of a player who creates plays from the outside. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak has everything needed to establish a strong « power game, » but he simply doesn’t do it.
The young player is therefore not the most engaged along the boards in forechecking or in his defensive zone. He needs to be supported by players who are willing to pay the price. This is a concern for me when it comes to his transition to professional hockey in North America. He lacks that « bite » despite having the stature to physically dominate.
Defensively, it’s still a work in progress. It’s mainly about keeping in motion and not being too fixated on the puck. This was quite evident during the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, where Jakob Ihs-Wozniak struggled to stand out for the majority of the tournament. He was simply invisible most of the time.
Ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak’s profile is not uncommon. Every year, we see prospects with all the talent in the world but lacking the necessary involvement to alleviate doubts about them. The Swede will have to address these concerns throughout the season.
If he manages to stay engaged consistently, especially in the SHL, there is no doubt that the player will crack the top 10 of the 2025 NHL Draft. Otherwise, we might see his name drop in the observers’ projections. Is another stint in the J20 Nationell necessary? In my opinion, it all depends on his training camp.
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