Winnipeg Jets
· 2026-07-14
The Winnipeg Jets have signed forward Viggo Björck to a three-year, entry-level contract, just over two weeks after selecting the 18-year-old Swedish forward with the eighth overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft. Björck will join the team on a deal carrying an average annual value of $1,075,000.
Björck's signing is a significant move for the Jets, who are looking to bolster their forward corps. The 18-year-old has already shown impressive skills, posting 15 points in 42 games with Djurgårdens IF's senior club in the SHL. He also represented Sweden at the 2026 World Junior Championship, where he was a driving force behind the team's gold medal run.
While Björck is expected to spend the majority of his first season in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, he could be well-positioned to give the Jets a boost down the stretch and factor into a playoff push by the time spring arrives. Standing at 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds, Björck will face a challenge in cracking the Jets' lineup right out of the gate next season. However, his size is not the only hurdle he needs to overcome, as most forwards of his stature rarely make the jump straight to the NHL in year one.
The Jets' decision to sign Björck is a testament to the team's commitment to developing young talent. With the team currently standing 12th in the Western Conference with a 35-35 record on a four-game losing streak, the signing of Björck could be a much-needed boost to the team's offense. The Jets' next game is scheduled for September 20 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Björck's path to the NHL may be similar to that of Kailer Yamamoto, who stood 5-foot-8 when the Edmonton Oilers took him 22nd overall in 2017. Yamamoto played nine games with the Oilers as a rookie, picking up three assists while mostly playing at the junior level. Björck's development will likely follow a similar trajectory, with a handful of NHL games to get a taste of the pace, and the bulk of his development coming either back in the SHL or with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.
The previous season, Björck broke the league's scoring record for a 16-year-old with 74 points in 42 games in Sweden's J20 Nationell. He then followed it up with 15 points in nine playoff games, a pace that made clear junior hockey no longer presented much of a challenge for him. Internationally, Björck was a driving force behind Sweden's gold medal run at the 2026 World Junior Championship, adding a silver at the 2025 U18 World Championship and representing his country at the senior World Championship this past spring.
This past week, Djurgårdens released Björck from his contract, clearing the way for him to play in North America at some level this upcoming season. The most likely scenario is that he continues his development in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. Size remains the primary hurdle standing between Björck and an immediate NHL role, but if he spends this season adjusting to the North American game, he could be well-positioned to give the Jets a boost down the stretch and factor into a playoff push by the time spring arrives.
category: club_news