Viggo Bjorck’s Trajectory With Winnipeg Jets Becomes Clearer After Decision To Leave Sweden Hockey League – Hockey Writers – Winnipeg Jets

“Viggo-mania” is coming soon to an arena near you.

If you live in or near Winnipeg, that means.

Viggo Bjorck, the eighth pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2026, made a big decision about his future Saturday by opting out of the second and final year of his contract with the Swedish Hockey League’s Djurgardens IF.

The Swede is certainly betting on himself and has made it clear that he is not afraid of a new challenge by choosing to play his first North American season at just 18 years old rather than return to his home country. But what his first season in Winnipeg will look like is still up in the air.

Bjorck’s Fitness Opens Up Opportunities

Bjork will be eligible to play for the Jets or Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, opening up opportunities for the Jets coaching staff that are rarely available when it comes to prospects his age.

Since Bjorck was drafted outside of Europe rather than any of the three minor leagues that comprise the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the agreement between the NHL and CHL that does not allow players to play in the AHL or ECHL until they are 20 years old or have completed four years of minor hockey does not apply to him. This deal would devalue top prospects and stunt their development as many would be better off playing in the AHL at 18 or 19 and learning the rigors of high level hockey than returning to the minors to continue to dominate.

Bjorck is considered one of the NHL’s best first-round prospects this year as he already has a season of professional hockey under his belt. He spent all of 2025-26 with Djurgardens and posted six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 42 games, then recorded one goal and two assists in three playoff games.

While those numbers don’t jump off the page, the fact that he’s been able to keep up with a top-quality team against senior men all season despite only being 17 until March is pretty impressive.

Jets Have High Hopes For Bjorck

The Jets’ first top-10 pick in a decade is perhaps their most important pick in another decade. The 5-foot-9 hockey shooter’s strengths include his hockey IQ, vision, athleticism, work ethic, motor skills, and competitiveness; his shooting is described as accurate and deceptive and he is known as a strong defensive player and a great penalty killer.

“The things that come off the page first and foremost, his competitiveness, and he’s one of those guys when you go scout him and watch him play, and you become a fan, it’s like you’re not a scout anymore,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said when Bjorck was drafted. “You watch, you are happy, you wonder who this player is who is always sitting on his stick, playing dynamic games, always in the right place defensively, just an interesting player.”

It’s no surprise that Bjorck, who was the focus of attention at the Jets’ 2026 Development Camp a few weeks ago, is someone the organization hopes can be the second-line center it’s been looking for for several seasons. Don’t be surprised if he gets an extra chance in training camp and the preseason to earn that role and at least start the season in the majors.

If he really struggles early, the Jets can always send him to Moose – just down the hall – to give him a chance to learn the North American game on the job against slightly easier competition for a while. If he sticks to the NHL, he still expects growing pains: Cheveldayoff said Bjorck will be used as a center, the most difficult position with the responsibility of defense, rather than being placed on the wing like other top prospects at the beginning of their NHL careers.

Having Bjorck become an active NHLer while still on his entry-level contract (ELC) will be critical considering the salary cap the Jets may not be able to accommodate over the next few seasons and their need for more impact players on the cheap. As such, the entry-level slide rule will also play a role in the organization’s decision-making: If he plays fewer than 10 NHL games this season, his ELC — which he will have to sign sometime this summer — will slide a year and keep him largely affordable until 2029-30.

While Bjorck’s 2026-27 standings are still to be determined and there are still many chapters left in his story, the next big plot point – Viggo-mania come September – is just a few pages away.