Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
The Winnipeg Jets announced that they’ve signed Viggo Bjorck to a three-year, entry-level contract worth an average annual value of $1.075 million.
The eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft has given many who follow the Jets a lot of hope for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Bjorck, 18, is highly touted as a centre, and it is believed that he could immediately help Winnipeg’s top six.
Bjorck played for Djurgardens IF of the SHL in 2025-26, posting 15 points (6G, 9A) in 42 games played. He added three points (1G, 2A) in three playoff games.
Before jumping to the SHL, Bjorck broke Sweden’s J20 Nationell league record for scoring by a 16-year-old, posting 74 points (27G, 47A) in 42 games.
Even though Bjorck is waiver-exempt, the expectation is that it will go unused and that he’ll get every opportunity to start as the Jets’ second-line centre.
This is extreme belief in Bjorck’s NHL ability that Winnipeg has had seemingly since draft day.
Transitioning from the SHL to the NHL will take time. There shouldn’t be a need for an AHL assignment or even a loan back to the SHL. If Bjorck is up to the task, Winnipeg might have one less need in its top six at its doorstep.
The track record for Winnipeg shows a long road, typically. As many have mentioned already, Winnipeg has kept Brad Lambert in the AHL, and it led to him requesting a trade last season. Elias Salomonsson wasn’t a part of the opening day plans, but he battled his way into meaningful NHL minutes. Last, but not least, Rutger McGroarty, a player who was supposed to usher in the next wave of exciting youth in the Jets’ system, wasn’t promised NHL minutes, and he was later traded for Brayden Yager.
Highlighted by Murat Ates of The Athletic, Winnipeg’s behind-the-scenes draft feature bleeps out an “f’ing rights.” Mark Hillier, who serves as the Jets’ director of amateur scouting, called Bjorck “one of the most exciting draft picks I’ve ever had.”
That’s high praise for Bjorck, and it seemingly puts him into his own tier when it comes to prospects in the Jets’ system, and far above many battling for NHL roles in training camp.
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Conrad Jack is a Manitoba-based media credentialed sportswriter covering the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL). He also covers the NHL Draft and World Junior Championship for ITR. He also covers league-wide news in his weekly series ‘Saturday’s notebook’ and through individual articles.