One of, or maybe even the most intriguing, players in the 2026 NHL draft is Swedish center Viggo Bjorck. The skilled right-handed shooter put up an impressive six goals and 15 points in 42 games in the SHL [http://thn.com/international], regarded by most as the second-best hockey league in the world. Outside of the SHL, he posted eight goals and 20 points in nine J-20 playoff games in Sweden. Bjorck also won gold with Team Sweden at the World Junior Championship, scoring three goals and nine points in seven games. He then earned a spot on Sweden’s World Championship roster, becoming the youngest Swedish player to ever participate in the event. In eight games, he scored one goal and six points, but made a noticeable impact in Sweden’s top six. Bjorck is a feisty player who loves to have the puck on his stick. He excels at zone exits and entries, routinely doing so with possession. He’s also stellar at finding pockets of space in the slot to fire shots on goal, very similar to players like Brayden Point and Logan Stankoven. Those are two players he’s been compared to, largely due to their play styles, but also physically. Florida Panthers 2026 Draft Targets: Daxon Rudolph [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/bb13eaf9-c170-4d18-9086-b7a965498956.jpeg] Florida Panthers 2026 Draft Targets: Daxon Rudolph The next player we’ll take a look at in our 2026 NHL draft targets for the Florida Panthers at pick No. 9 is 6-foot-3, right-handed defenseman Daxon Rudolph. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/florida-panthers-2026-draft-targets-daxon-rudolph] Bjorck, alongside fellow 2026 NHL draft prospects, recently completed the Scouting Combine, where he was listed at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. While his game is polished on both ends, his skating is high-end, and he competes hard, his size as a center is undersized, which is holding him back from being a top-five or top-three pick in the draft. The Panthers don’t usually go down the route of selecting undersized players, but Bjorck’s skill, two-way prowess, and compete level are all traits that should make him a great NHL player. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5a831790-e7da-4009-ba91-f58f2aa19aa6.webp] For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source [https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=thehockeynews.com]. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
