- May 21, 2026
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He may be one of the smallest centers in the 2026 NHL Draft class, but he’s arguably the most talented, too. The Winnipeg Jets selected Viggo Björck, 18, with the No. 8 overall pick Friday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
Björck was held in high regard by scouts heading into his draft year, but he gained momentum throughout this season and rose rapidly up boards. He’s just 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds, but he plays with such a fearless intensity that he can go toe to toe with larger opponents regularly. Björck is a playmaker known for making his linemates better and facilitating power plays. He also has a deceptively dangerous shot. His high hockey IQ gives him a maturity beyond his years – to the point he was entrusted as Sweden’s first-line center at the World Championship this spring, flanked by fellow 2026 NHL draftee Ivar Stenberg. Björck picked up a goal and six points in eight games.
Björck worked his way onto the first line with Djurgårdens of the SHL this season, too. His 15 points in 42 games were highly impressive for a player who just turned 18 in March. He was also instrumental to the Swedes’ gold-medal squad at the 2026 World Junior Championship, picking up nine points in seven games, and was named one of the top three players on the team. As a 16-year-old, he broke the J20 Nationell League scoring record with a staggering 74 points in 42 games.
With a year remaining on his SHL deal, Björck will likely stay in Sweden another season. But he’ll be hard to miss once he crosses the pond. With his fiery game, diminutive stature, and ability to play center or the wing, he could make an impact similar to Zach Benson’s or Logan Stankoven’s at the NHL level.
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Björck was held in high regard by scouts heading into his draft year, but he gained momentum throughout this season and rose rapidly up boards. He’s just 5-foot-10 and 172 pounds, but he plays with such a fearless intensity that he can go toe to toe with larger opponents regularly. Björck is a playmaker known for making his linemates better and facilitating power plays. He also has a deceptively dangerous shot. His high hockey IQ gives him a maturity beyond his years – to the point he was entrusted as Sweden’s first-line center at the World Championship this spring, flanked by fellow 2026 NHL draftee Ivar Stenberg. Björck picked up a goal and six points in eight games.
Björck worked his way onto the first line with Djurgårdens of the SHL this season, too. His 15 points in 42 games were highly impressive for a player who just turned 18 in March. He was also instrumental to the Swedes’ gold-medal squad at the 2026 World Junior Championship, picking up nine points in seven games, and was named one of the top three players on the team. As a 16-year-old, he broke the J20 Nationell League scoring record with a staggering 74 points in 42 games.
With a year remaining on his SHL deal, Björck will likely stay in Sweden another season. But he’ll be hard to miss once he crosses the pond. With his fiery game, diminutive stature, and ability to play center or the wing, he could make an impact similar to Zach Benson’s or Logan Stankoven’s at the NHL level.
Continue reading...