Jets' Viggo Björck Shows Promise Through Underlying Stats Despite Slow Start on Scoresheet

Through the first three games of the Winnipeg Jets' season, 18-year-old rookie Viggo Björck has had a mixed start to his NHL career. Heavily doubted when he entered his first NHL action, the youngster has seen both highs and lows so far.

Over three games, Björck has yet to record a point, has four shots on net, a minus-one rating and a questionable minor penalty in Winnipeg's 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.

He has won just under 26 percent of his faceoffs and is averaging roughly 14 minutes of ice time a night, with his season-high coming in the opener, when he played just shy of 16 minutes.

Under the hood, however, the numbers are more encouraging. Björck has 29 speed bursts between 18 and 20 miles per hour, which ranks in the 91st percentile in the league and shows his skating is well above average. 

The Swedish import has also been getting himself into scoring position, with three of his four shots on goal coming in high-danger situations, a mark that ranks in the 88th percentile of the NHL. If he can continue this trend, his first career goal should come sooner rather than later.

His hardest shot of the season so far clocked in at 77.01 miles per hour, which lands just above league average in the 55th percentile, another sign that his tools are on display early.

While fans hoped Björck would immediately seize a top-six role, his early numbers sit closer to league or above average, and has settled into more of a middle-six role for now. 

Still, indicators like his high-danger chances point toward a breakout game coming soon, and it could arrive as early as Wednesday night in a massive matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

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