The New Jersey Devils are on the hunt for a center with serious upside, and Swedish prospect Viggo Björck might just be the answer. As we kick off our 2026 NHL Draft prospect profiles, let's take a closer look at this talented right-handed pivot who's turning heads in the Swedish Hockey League.
Björck, who turned 18 on March 12, stands at 5'10" and 172 pounds—a classic case of an undersized player with a big game. While he's under contract with Djurgårdens IF through the 2026-27 season, meaning he won't be making an immediate jump to the NHL, his draft stock is rising. Projected to go in the mid-to-late lottery selections this year, Björck has shown he can produce at a high level.
This season, Björck notched six goals and nine assists in 42 games with Djurgårdens in the SHL. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but context is everything. For a 17-year-old playing his first professional season, that's well above average production. His 2024-25 campaign with Djurgårdens' U20 juniors was even more impressive: 27 goals and 47 assists in a single season. When draft-eligible players put up numbers like that in their draft year—let alone the year before—scouts take notice. And Björck backed it up with a solid professional debut.
This was a pivotal season for Djurgårdens, who were fighting to stay out of relegation after earning promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan. Björck wasn't alone in the spotlight. The team got a boost from former NHLer Jacob Josefson, who returned after a four-year hiatus to help the club he once captained. With fellow NHL prospects Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund also in the mix, Djurgårdens struck a balance between young talent and veteran leadership, finishing ninth in the standings—a respectable result given the circumstances.
As for rankings, Björck's profile continues to climb, though we're holding off on sharing outside evaluations for now. Many early draft rankings are already outdated, and we'd rather wait for more comprehensive scouting reports as we get deeper into draft season. One thing is clear: Viggo Björck is a name Devils fans—and anyone tracking the 2026 draft—should have on their radar.