Upon being given an early release from his contract with Djurgardens IF in the SHL, 2026 8th overall pick Viggo Bjorck (WPG) will compete in North America this season. As a first-round pick, the Jets would have been able to assign Björck to the AHL outright following training camp without Djurgården’s permission, per the NHL’s transfer agreement with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. Djurgardens has now made that move academic.
Although slightly undersized at 5’9″ and 181 pounds, Bjorck competed very effectively against top Swedish professionals this past season as a 17-year-old. Prior to being released from his contract, he was expected to be in the mix for Djurgardens’ number one pivot this season. Also, Björck impressed at the recently-held Jets development, sparking talk of an entry-level deal and a roster battle for a middle-six center spot with the big club. While some worry a quick move might slow his growth, his mature two-way game has fans and reporters excited for what training camp brings.