Viktor Stålberg

Viktor Stålberg

Stalberg in September 2015.
Born (1986-01-17) January 17, 1986
Gothenburg, SWE
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Blackhawks
Nashville Predators
National team  Sweden
NHL Draft 161st overall, 2006
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2009present

Viktor Stålberg (born January 17, 1986) is a Swedish professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, and Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2013.

Playing career

Amateur

During the 2005–06 season, Stålberg played for Frölunda HC in the J20 SuperElit. He led the team in scoring with 33 goals and 31 assists in 48 games during the regular season and playoffs.[1] After this season, Stålberg was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 6th round (161st overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.[2]

Stålberg joined the University of Vermont, hitting the ice for his freshman season in 2006–07.[1] He was one of only two freshmen on the team who played in all 39 of the club's games that season.[1] He finished the season with 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points.[2] During the season, he was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week on November 13, 2006, as well as being named to the Hockey East Weekly Honor Roll.[1] At the end of the season, Stålberg was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team.[1]

During his sophomore season in 2007–08, Stålberg again played in all 39 games for the Catamounts, scoring 10 goals and adding 13 assists.[2] During the year, he was named Hockey East Player of the Week three times, and was also named to the Hockey East Weekly Honor Roll three times.[1] At the end of the season, he was an honorable mention Hockey East All-Star and had earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Academic Team.[1]

Stalberg during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks.

During his junior year at Vermont, Stålberg again played in 39 games, scoring 24 goals and adding 22 assists.[2] His 24 goals ranked fourth in the nation, and he led Vermont in points.[1] He garnered many individual honors during this season. He was one of the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He was the first player from the University of Vermont to be a finalist for the award since Martin St. Louis.[3] He was named the Hockey East Player of the Month for January, and picked up two Hockey East Player of the Week honors.[1] During his Junior year with the University of Vermont he and his teammates made it to the Frozen Four Stalberg was a finalist for the 2008-09 Hobey Baker award in his final season with the Catamounts. He ranked fifth in the country in goals (24) that year and was first on the team in points (46) on the way to leading the Catamounts to the Frozen Four. He was the fourth player in program history to be named a finalist for the Hobey Baker award along with Kirk McCaskill '83 (1982), Eric Perrin '97 (1996) and Martin St. Louis '97 (1995, 1996, 1997). Stalberg was also named a Division I First-Team All-American in 2008-09

Professional

After his successful junior campaign at the University of Vermont, Stålberg decided to turn pro, signing a two-year entry level contract with the Maple Leafs on April 14, 2009.[4] Immediately after signing his contract, Stålberg was assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. He made his professional debut with the Marlies during the 2008–09 AHL playoffs.[4] On June 30, 2010, Stalberg was traded along with prospects Philippe Paradis and Chris DiDomenico to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Kris Versteeg and Bill Sweatt.

Stålberg recorded his first career hat trick on January 10, 2012 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[5] Stålberg won the Stanley Cup in 2013 as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.

On the back of his success in the post-season with the Blackhawks, Stålberg signed a four-year deal worth $12 million with the Nashville Predators on July 5, 2013. In just his second season with the Predators, failing to live up to the expectations of his contract, Stålberg was demoted to AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals for portions the 2014–15 season. On June 30, 2015, after he was placed on unconditional waivers, Stålberg was bought out from the remaining two-years of his contract with the Predators and released to free agency.[6]

On July 1, 2015, with ambition to reclaim his status in the NHL, Stålberg was signed to a one-year contract with the New York Rangers.[7]

International play

Stålberg was selected to represent Sweden in the 2012 IIHF World Championship.[8]

Personal

Stålberg's parents are Eddy and Maria Stålberg of Lerum, Sweden.[1] He has two younger brothers, Alexander, and Sebastian, who currently plays hockey for the Worcester Sharks. His favorite athlete is former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin.[1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Frölunda HC J20 4127265389 765116
2006–07 University of Vermont HE 39781553
2007–08 University of Vermont HE 3910132334
2008–09 University of Vermont HE 3924224632
2008–09 Toronto Marlies AHL 20110
2009–10 Toronto Marlies AHL 3912213336
2009–10 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 40951430
2010–11 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 7712122443 71015
2011–12 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 7922214334 6 0 2 28
2012–13 Frölunda HC SEL 11751210
2012–13 Atlant Moscow Oblast KHL 1437104
2012–13 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 479142325 190336
2013–14 Nashville Predators NHL 708101832
2014–15 Nashville Predators NHL 25281018 6 1 2 30
2014–15 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 201161714
NHL totals 3286270132182 3827919

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Sweden WC 6th 8 3 1 4 2
Senior totals 8 3 1 4 2

Awards and honours

Award Year
College
All-Hockey East First Team 2008–09
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2008–09
NHL
Stanley Cup Champion 2013

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Profile". University of Vermont. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Viktor Stalberg". Hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  3. "Hobey Baker Award Announces Top Ten Finalists". hobeybaker.com. 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  4. 1 2 "Viktor Stalberg". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  5. "Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks - Boxscore - January 12, 2012". SI.com. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  6. "Poile's off-season address". Nashville Predators. 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  7. "Rangers agree to terms with Stalberg". New York Rangers. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  8. Rogers, Jesse. "Several Hawks to play in Championships". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 May 2012.

External links

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