Viggomania heats up

Putting pen to paper was merely the next step in the journey for Viggo Bjorck.

Now that the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft has inked his entry-level deal with the Winnipeg Jets, the real fun begins.

This is standard operating procedure and was basically a formality after Bjorck’s club team Djurgardens announced publicly over the weekend that the skilled forward was leaving the Swedish Hockey League to pursue NHL opportunities.

Bjorck signed his three-year pact on Monday and it carries a cap hit of US $1.075 million in the NHL, with the ability to make another US$1 million per season if he hits his performance bonuses.

Make no mistake, the Jets would be more than happy to shell out an additional US$3 million over the course of this first deal, as it would mean that Bjorck has come as advertised and delivered in the second-line centre role.

A lot still needs to unfold in Bjorck’s quest to become a full-time NHLer, but there is reason for optimism that the Swedish forward is up for the challenge.

Although the past 12 months have been a whirlwind of activity, Bjorck has overcome every obstacle, whether it was helping his country capture a gold medal at the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship in Minnesota, making a solid contribution in the SHL, returning for the U20 playoffs and helping Djurgardens win a league championship or anchoring a line for Sweden at the men’s world championship in May.

“A phenomenal hockey player and a phenomenal young man,” Josef Boumedienne, the former general manager for Team Sweden, said in a telephone interview from Gotland on Monday. “I’ve seen Viggo play since he was five or six years old in Stockholm. He was always head and shoulders ahead of every other player on the ice when it comes to hockey IQ and time and space.”

The hockey intelligence is something that stood out to Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and director of amateur scouting Mark Hillier during the course of Bjorck’s draft year.

Boumedienne made it clear this wasn’t a new development for Bjorck and is what has made him the total package.

“He’s a very intelligent young man. He was very good in school and all of that. He’s extremely dedicated and has always been,” said Boumedienne. “It’s probably a combination of being very interested in everything around the game and it’s something that’s innate as well.”

Having an older sibling to look up to was another benefit for Bjorck, whose brother Wilson was chosen in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks.

“He has an older brother who is quite a hockey player and sometimes that’s an advantage when you can chase your older brother around,” said Boumedienne.

Bjorck mentioned how special it was to win a gold medal with Wilson at the 2026 world juniors when asked about it at Jets development camp.

“He was always head and shoulders ahead of every other player on the ice when it comes to hockey IQ and time and space.”

“Definitely been a tough stretch for Sweden, so it’s a relief kind of, and a super incredible moment to win,” said Bjorck. “Especially having your brother there as well, getting to do that together, it was something special.”

Bjorck didn’t need much time to leave an impression on the Jets fan base, showing off his engaging personality and passion for hockey — which came as no surprise to Boumedienne.

“It’s been fun to watch him play. I’ve known him for most of his life,” said Boumedienne. “He’s such a humble young man and he takes everything in stride. He never tries to impress anyone. He’s just an awesome kid to be around.”

Bjorck’s on-ice skills were readily apparent to anyone in attendance, as his vision, passing and finishing ability were on display.

The same can be said for his competitive spirit, drive and defensive acumen.

Bjorck is someone who seems to always be in the middle of the action, with the gift of anticipation and a willingness to go to the tough areas being another obvious trait that has allowed him to flourish.

The other thing about Bjorck is that he wants the puck on his stick when the game is on the line.

“You can play him in every single situation and you know he’s going to excel, whether it’s on a three-on-five penalty kill or on the power play or when you pull the goalie or it’s the last faceoff of the game,” said Boumedienne. “He excels in every single area and what really sticks out is his ability to rise to the occasion when the game is on the line.

“Just the calm swagger when the game is on the line is something that has always impressed me with Viggo.”

Boumedienne is confident that Bjorck can step into the Jets lineup and do more than just tread water.

“I’m confident he’ll be an impactful player right away,” said Boumedienne. “It takes some time to get used to everything obviously and nobody wants to put pressure on an 18-year-old kid, but the fact that he can play in every situation makes him an intriguing player. You know you can trust him defensively and that’s something that helps him take the next step and make an impact quicker than most players because he’s reliable both ways.”

Having a reliable two-way game at such a young age is rarely seen and it’s part of the reason Sweden had Bjorck slotted in as the first-line centre at the men’s world championship in May, ahead of several players with NHL experience.

“We went day by day to see how it all unfolded,” said Boumedienne. “He was matching up against Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby and did a really good job. We were very pleased with his play.”

The Jets aren’t asking Bjorck to come in and carry the team, but he represents an injection of youth and hope for not just the future, but also the present.

He’s the most promising prospect around these parts in a decade.

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe